At a press conference this morning in Toronto, author J.K. Rowling was asked repeatedly about the recent revelations regarding the background information on Dumbledore and the fact that she said she felt this character was gay. Saying “I’m not kidding,” about this statement Jo made last Friday in New York, the author went on to note “I know that it was a positive thing that I said it for at least one person because one man ‘came out’ at Carnegie Hall.”
The Star (DH plot spoiler at link!) continues on to note J.K. Rowling emphasized the information was revealed because she was asked a direct question about it, and said “she didn’t feel the need to be explicit about Dumbledore’s sexual preferences because she wanted to focus on character development.
“If you were an author then you would understand that when you write the ending it comes at the end,” she said.”
Update: The entire video press conference with Jo is now online, here. Thanks Mahri!)
Jo continued on to say:
The plot is what it is,” said Rowling. “(Dumbledore) did have, as I say, this rather tragic infatuation but that was a key part of the ending of the story so there it is. Why would I put the key part of my ending of my story in Book One?”
Rowling said Tuesday she found it “freeing” to out Dumbledore, adding that the passages about him will mean different things to different readers.
“I think a child will see a friendship and I think a sensitive adult may well understand that it was an infatuation,” she said.
UPDATE: Reuters has more now from JKR, who elaborated on her decision to reveal the information about Dumbledore stating:”He is my character. He is what he is and I have the right to say what I say about him.”
Jo also said again “she might work on a Potter encyclopedia for charity, but only after a long break.”It’s like the break-up of a marriage. It’s a good idea not to see each other for a while, then maybe you can be good friends afterwards,” she said.”
Update 3: Photos of Jo from the press conference in Toronto, Ontario Canada are now up in our galleries, here.
Okay, first I get tired of comments that say bla bla bla BUT bla bla bla. For example (not my words or feelings just an example): “I don’t hate gays, BUT their life style is disgusting” In the words of Doctor Phil, when you say BUT in the middle of a sentence you are saying forget what I just said now I’m really going to tell you how I feel. All right enough of that now…just a pet peeve of mine.
Secondly, choose to agree or disagree with Jo, but the bottom line is these are her characters, her story. This is how she pictured Dumbledore, just as she pictured Snape as a hidden nice guy who was still somewhat of a slimy git when it came to Harry. After the book came out she expounded on her feelings about Snape and his character, and not everyone agrees with her on this either. Alas does it matter? Not really, I personally think that Jo’s ideas are dead on because these are her characters she’s been with them longer than any of us and therefore knows them the best. However, if you don’t agree then don’t see them in that way. To me it’s as simple as that.
I am very glad to hear from Jo on this issue, and I agree that there was no reason to put much if anything about DD’s sexuality in the books. We didn’t really learn anything about Grindewald (other than what was on the chocolate frog cards) until the DH, so why would she have put anything in it earlier since he was the wizard DD was infatuated with. As to any mentions in DH well it really just depends on how you read it. When I read DD’s letter to Grindewald in DH for the first time I could feel the emotions that were radiating from the words. I had an inkling there was something more there, others may not have seen it nor ever see it that way. It just really depends on your interpretation doesn’t it. She had no need to put it in explicitly because in a sense she was allowing us to make what we would out of it. As she said, some will see it only as a friendship, others as an infatuation, it all depends on your perspective.
Why bring it up now…because she was asked a DIRECT question and answered it honestly. Truly it’s as simple as that. It doesn’t bother me one iota that DD is gay or had a love for Grindewald, to me that adds to his characterization, shows him as an even more loving person who was also blinded by that love.
Superaurorgirl, I agree. I’m tired of arguing with these idiots. They can believe whatever. I myself, just can’t wait until movie 6 comes out. That’s going to be a long wait, but after seeing all of those pictures of Slughorn’s house and of that village. I just can’t wait!!! I’m sooo excited!!!
Just please stop saying this woman is brave. There is nothing brave about the way she handle this whole gay issue. She didn’t even see it fit to include it in the last book, where she suppostly thought it was key. And those who argue she is already rich. She doesn’t need more money. Give me a break. Since when did having money stopped you from wanting more. This is the woman that sued a poor indian organization for building a fake hogwarts for their nonprofit religous ceremony. That is when I’m view on her went down like 50%. In the sued, she was asking for money. Not just demanding they stop.
I’d hoped I was done commenting on this. One last facet:
Regarding the effect on children, the only effect it will have on them is when narrominded bigots choose to shelter their kids from this, one aspect of true reality. Do you worry about explaining the relationship of Harry’s parental units? Are you concerned with all the heterosexual references on TV? OMG, how will I explain to Little Johnny why Mr. and Mrs. Cleaver are in the same bed together!? How do you plan to explain your OWN relations to the kids? The clear answer is that you don’t. They take it in, along with everything else in the world. They see it as just as standard/real as strawberry, chocolate, carmel and vanilla all being flavors of ice cream. They’re still only going to like what they like. Knowing that gay people exist doesn’t make them gay, any more than knowing straight people exist made gay people straight, even though most of the visual role models were hetero.
I had a BF, he lived with his best friend from HS, and his godson. The child was raised that people love each other. Some love boys, some love girls, and it’s all just people loving other people. He didn’t blink at us being affectionate towards each other. Tony and I holding hands was no different than his mom and her husband doing the same thing. Even when he barged into the bedroom one day and saw us making out, his “what are you guys doin’?” wasn’t in reference to the kiss. He wanted to know if we’d come out and play with him. The kiss never needed explained. Kids tend to take things in stride.
I find that people who are homophobic will use just about any excuse to justify their unreasonable hatred. Some call upon the (VERY few) references in the Bible to justify their prejudice (while ignoring all the OTHER sins that they commit regularly, including being unloving and intolerant.) Some try to use Nature (and switch to another arguement when that one falls short of fact,) and some try to suggest that children will be harmed. Fact is, gay men and lesbians have been raising children for decades now – very well adjusted HETERO children who love their parents very much. When will you homophobes give it up? Why is it so terribly hard for you to grasp that there is no harm, and just accept people, be glad that they love?
Japanese press report that Jo told that Grindelwald turned down Dumbledore, after he had shared a bed with the young DD three times. Therefore, there is a fierce bashing on Jo and the whole Harry Potter series. It’s crazy.
Please don’t feed the TROLLS, (Whitney, Rachel, Richard, Soldior, Wand of Harry…have I left anyone out?).
Posted by A Clockwork Pumpkin on October 23, 2007, 05:13 PM
report to moderator
Well, DUMBle if you had read the books then you would KNOW what went on during Harry and Dumbledore’s lessons. Since the books are from Harry’s point of view and everything. Nice try though.
Mia—I’d really like to know where they heard that one. Jo hasn’t mentioned anything about that, or it would be in the press over here as well. Sounds like people are making up their own details.
Posted by patronous potter on October 23, 2007, 05:14 PM
report to moderator
@Mia: JKR never said that Grindelwald returned Dumbledore’s feelings. Which is why Dumbledore had his heartbroken. He was infatuated with Grindelwald’s mind and when Grindelwald turned out to have so much hate in him Dumbledore was let down. This doesn’t have anything to do with sex at all. I don’t know why people ALWAYS think about sex whenever a Gay matter is brought up.
If I could send a howler to tell everybody to play nice in the sandbox I would.
Posted by Owls&Howls'r'Us on October 23, 2007, 05:19 PM
report to moderator
@Patronous: People are stupid, so they’re coming up with alot of stupid crap. I’m not Gay and I never really understood Gay people before, but after all of this, I really really feel sorry for them. No wonder they don’t want anyone to know that their Gay. I thought people had become accepting of them because of all the stuff I see on TV but clearly not. If HP “FANS” are getting upset just because JKR said she PICTURED Dumbledore as gay and I thought HP fans consisted of a pretty liberal and open-minded bunch of people, but I guess NOT!
It is unfortunate that anyone who was disappointed at this news is viewed as “close-minded” or seemingly unable to think for themselves. The abusive language used here on a “fan” site (where hopefully all of us can at least agree that the books are fantastic and J.K. Rowling is a very gifted author) doesn’t lend credibility to either side of the issue. Almost all of us have taken the characters that Jo has written for us and know what they look like to us or what their voices sound like to us. In that respect, the characters become our own. Because they have become “ours,” you will have people who are disappointed with a specific actor being selected to play a part or because of an actor’s performance in the films.
Jo announcing this about a beloved character, after the series was complete, will shock any fan (some positively and others negatively). Regardless of the effect, this is a character that belongs to each of us in a very personal way. He’s a hero, and to some this news obviously comes as a severe blow to their very personal experience with him. And since they belong to each of us (at a personal level), there are many fans who resist any degree of tampering. There isn’t anything wrong with a fan if they feel the way that they express here (whether disappointed or excited at the news). When the dust settles from this, the version of Harry’s story that we chose to read will remain unchanged for each of us. Fan-fiction proves that despite what we may read in the books, or even what Jo may say herself, these characters are ours and we have that right (any Harry/Hermione shippers out there)?
Okay, first I get tired of comments that say bla bla bla BUT bla bla bla. For example (not my words or feelings just an example): “I don’t hate gays, BUT their life style is disgusting” In the words of Doctor Phil, when you say BUT in the middle of a sentence you are saying forget what I just said now I’m really going to tell you how I feel. All right enough of that now…just a pet peeve of mine.
Secondly, choose to agree or disagree with Jo, but the bottom line is these are her characters, her story. This is how she pictured Dumbledore, just as she pictured Snape as a hidden nice guy who was still somewhat of a slimy git when it came to Harry. After the book came out she expounded on her feelings about Snape and his character, and not everyone agrees with her on this either. Alas does it matter? Not really, I personally think that Jo’s ideas are dead on because these are her characters she’s been with them longer than any of us and therefore knows them the best. However, if you don’t agree then don’t see them in that way. To me it’s as simple as that.
I am very glad to hear from Jo on this issue, and I agree that there was no reason to put much if anything about DD’s sexuality in the books. We didn’t really learn anything about Grindewald (other than what was on the chocolate frog cards) until the DH, so why would she have put anything in it earlier since he was the wizard DD was infatuated with. As to any mentions in DH well it really just depends on how you read it. When I read DD’s letter to Grindewald in DH for the first time I could feel the emotions that were radiating from the words. I had an inkling there was something more there, others may not have seen it nor ever see it that way. It just really depends on your interpretation doesn’t it. She had no need to put it in explicitly because in a sense she was allowing us to make what we would out of it. As she said, some will see it only as a friendship, others as an infatuation, it all depends on your perspective.
Why bring it up now…because she was asked a DIRECT question and answered it honestly. Truly it’s as simple as that. It doesn’t bother me one iota that DD is gay or had a love for Grindewald, to me that adds to his characterization, shows him as an even more loving person who was also blinded by that love.
Thanks again Jo.