J.K. Rowling’s startling revelation, that Albus Dumbledore, the beloved headmaster of Hogwarts, is gay has stumped many staunch Harry Potter fans. The initial reaction from young readers worldwide is there’s been no allusion whatsoever to Dumbledore’s sexual preferences in six books. Only a very fertile imagination (and certainly not a child’s), could catch on to the subtle undercurrents and hints Rowling claims there were, between the dark lord Grindelwald, and Dumbledore in the seventh book, Deathly Hallows. So, why now, once the series is done and over with, does Rowling drop this bombshell? Rowling very correctly asserts that Dumbledore is her character, to shape as she pleases. However, after portraying Dumbledore as a heroic father figure of indeterminate age, who’s not displayed the slightest romantic interest in either women or men, this gay angle just doesn’t ring true. It’s a little like an author writing a misleading whodunnit, by choosing the most improbable, and least likely candidate as the murderer. It’s simply not fair. Writers owe it to their readers to maintain some consistency and the thread, in a series. Literature, through the ages, has had innumerable gay characters. The unforgettable ones are the sinister Mrs Danvers in Daphne Du Maurier’s classic Rebecca, whose relationship with the protagonist indicates fierce passion. And then there’s Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray where, again, several of the main characters are exploring alternate sexuality. But the Potter books are perhaps, the only series in popular children’s fiction that have a significant gay character, portrayed to be almost god-like and holy. The gay community is understandably thrilled and says this disclosure will go a long way in ending discrimination and helping acceptance of homosexuality. However, Rowling has consistently addressed issues of inequality and respect for different people within her fiction. Potter’s central theme has revolved around good versus evil, and her magic world is full of “pure bloods, half bloods and Muggles”. She has in the past, spoken out against young girls emulating supermodels. So far, her subtle crusading has been in tune with her story, and fits in perfectly. Until now. Sure, Dumbledore’s homosexuality doesn’t change the fact that he is brave and brilliant, and a great headmaster. However, why did Rowling devote thousands of pages to the headmaster in her seven books and neglect to mention this crucial dimension of his character? Sceptics say it’s to keep the Potter hype alive. Some reactions on websites state Rowling is struggling herself, to reconcile alternate sexuality with educationists. But then, as a reaction on the Leaky Cauldron, a popular Potter fan website puts it, who cares who Dumbledore liked to hold hands with when he was 17?
