JK Rowling: Revelations Since Deathly Hallows

[Hes]

Post-Series Revelations and their impact on the fans

1. Do you believe JK Rowling is doing the right thing in revealing bits and pieces of information in the manner she has?

I do, it keeps the fandom alive, I don't think she does it for publicity purposes. She knows how many questions the fans still have and she wants to reward her fans this way. I think she realized that a wait for the possible encyclopedia can take years and years, so answering burning questions suits her.

2. When an author reveals a lot of information in this manner, it is referred to by some fans as The Word of God. Is this always the case or can authors slip up off the page as much as they can, on it? Can we rely on their off-the-cuff remarks or should we take it with a pinch of salt?

I guess sometimes certain revelations are made at the spur of the moment and might not always turn out well. But if an author makes the choice to reveal information I hope he or she thinks about the consequences and is consistent.

3. Do you think JKR should expand the functionality of her website to allow for fans to vote more frequently on key issues of the series?

I am not sure what is meant here, the fans opinion on what happens in the series or requests for more information. Anyway I think there should still be sometimes to be left to the imagination of the reader. I personally don't have to know everything, I like to create my own answers to certain issues.

4. Do you think authors like JKR should restrict official canon information to named outlets such as personal websites, chosen fansites and certain media groups so that people can filter out the wishful thinking from the actual plot points, or would that be too difficult to achieve?

In a way it would be good, less rumours that get peoples hopes up and then are bunked and cause drama. But really whatever JKR thinks best, it doesn't bother me that much.

5. Do you agree or disagree that JKR reveals information rather too liberally and should she restrain herself for the sake of not upsetting the apple cart?

So far it's not overdone, with the Open book tours it's logical new information is asked and given, otherwise she should refuse questions or don't do tours at all. But she should be careful that she won't contradict herself at some point, with all the questions I imagine that must be difficult!

The Dumbledore Revelation and the way it was handled

6. The revelation concerning the sexuality of Dumbledore has split many fans, and not all down a pro-gay/anti-gay line. There are those who consider it to be something of a literary faux pas. That in revealing something that could have been included in the story, after the series has finished, suggests there was possibly another motive for keeping the information quiet. With all that in mind, please look at the following:

Do you believe that she should have:

1. Revealed Dumbledore's sexuality to the reader during the writing of the series?
2. When asked about Dumbledore's 'true love', kept quiet and revealed it in a more official capacity (through her website / encyclopedia) at a later date?
3. Avoided revealing anything about his sexuality altogether until a much later date?

Or do you believe she was right in the way she revealed it?

I would have liked it if she had written it in the books, that way Dumbledore's behavior in relation to Grindelwald would have been more understandable for me. But I don't think it would have made a difference response wise between the revelation now or at a later date. People would still react the same.


7. Do you believe that in revealing a gay character, it will harm the Harry Potter franchise?

It's difficult to say at the moment, people are still in shock, they jump to react and at times I wonder if they are forgetting what they love about the series. Undoubtedly some fans will turn away, but that is their choice. If Dumbledore's sexuality conflicts with their believes it's their problem and I don't think I can judge them on that.

I'll be interested how the HBP movie will be seen and if the revelation about Dumbledore will influence the ratings and box office, but I doubt that.


8. Do you think JKR kept Dumbledore's sexuality private because it wasn't a key plot device or because there was a danger she wouldn't be able to get it either passed her publishers or that she was personally doubtful it would hold amongst all her fans?

Well I am not sure if it's a key plot device. I can see why she didn't reveal it though. She probably would have had to do some serious editing to get the book through in certain parts of the world. I think though that JKR had faith that the majority of her fans wouldn't be outraged about Dumbledore, he is/was a much loved character.

10. Had Dumbledore been revealed as gay from the beginning, do you believe the books would have done as well? Would they have been classed as children's books by many? Would you have bought them?

It wouldn't have done that well in certain parts of the world where homosexuality is still a touchy subject. But I think and hope that it would have done as well as it deserves, people are capable of looking beyond labels in my view.

I doubt that a lot of bookshops would have moved the books to the adult section, Dumbledore being gay is a tiny part of the books and lets be honest it's not flaunted that he is gay at all. It's side info and we don't see him kissing another man or even talking about it at all.

I would still have bought them, it makes no difference.

What's to come?

11. Do you believe that JKR will announce any more big revelations in years to come? If so, do you have any theories on what that big revelation might be?

Well an revelation here and there would be nice, no idea what they would be. But like I said before I don't want to know everything.

12. If a Harry Potter encyclopedia is released, what would you like to see in it ? Would you buy it?

I would buy it, doesn't matter what is in it. More information on Hogwarts through the ages would be nice.

[leah49]

1. Do you believe JK Rowling is doing the right thing in revealing bits and pieces of information in the manner she has?

Yes. Most of the information she gives out is irrelevant (how important is it to know that Cho Chang marries a Muggle?), but if you are a fan of a certain character you do want to know as much as you possible can about him or her. I like that she's waiting until questions are asked instead of giving a huge press release or something. She can't possibly know everything the fans are going to ask, so if she did give a huge statement or something, she could/would possibly miss something that the fans are hammering for.

2. When an author reveals a lot of information in this manner, it is referred to by some fans as The Word of God. Is this always the case or can authors slip up off the page as much as they can, on it? Can we rely on their off-the-cuff remarks or should we take it with a pinch of salt?

I think we should take everything with a pinch of salt. I do think some things Rowling says are made up on the spot, simply because she can't be prepared for every single question the fans are going to ask, but I also know she has had SO much back story prepared on each (well, most) characters that most of it is what she's planned on for years. She did have a much longer, detailed epilogue written, but scrapped it for what we have in the book, so she does have a lot of the characters' lives created even though we might not see a lot of it in the actual text.

3. Do you think JKR should expand the functionality of her website to allow for fans to vote more frequently on key issues of the series?

Honestly, I don't care. What do you mean by key issues? Things brought up in the series or questions people have that weren't answered in the series? If it's the latter, that would be awesome.

4. Do you think authors like JKR should restrict official canon information to named outlets such as personal websites, chosen fansites and certain media groups so that people can filter out the wishful thinking from the actual plot points, or would that be too difficult to achieve?

I'm not sure what is meant here. I don't think she reveals things unless it's in an interview--a planned interview, not just Joe Schmoe walking down the street, although if she did that we might not know about it or believe Mr. Schmoe if he told us.
I do wonder if she waited to let out the Dumbledore news until she got to Carnegie Hall and wonder why she wanted to do it in the US rather than in Britain.

5. Do you agree or disagree that JKR reveals information rather too liberally and should she restrain herself for the sake of not upsetting the apple cart?

I don't know, to be honest. She has had a lot of stuff planned for a very long time. Also, people ask questions. She answers. She is careful with her answers. An eight year old asked about Aberforth performing questionable spells on goats. Rowling tailored her answer to be appropriate for an eight year old rather than give the real answer. If she's asked a question, she should answer it. She's not just blurting out details. She's answering questions.

The Dumbledore Revelation and the way it was handled

6. The revelation concerning the sexuality of Dumbledore has split many fans, and not all down a pro-gay/anti-gay line. There are those who consider it to be something of a literary faux pas. That in revealing something that could have been included in the story, after the series has finished, suggests there was possibly another motive for keeping the information quiet. With all that in mind, please look at the following:

Do you believe that she should have:

Revealed Dumbledore's sexuality to the reader during the writing of the series?
When asked about Dumbledore's 'true love', kept quiet and revealed it in a more official capacity (through her website / encyclopedia) at a later date?
Avoided revealing anything about his sexuality altogether until a much later date?

Or do you believe she was right in the way she revealed it?

I do think she was trying to hide it before the books were published. Honestly, I do. She had to know it would affect sales in some form or fashion. Do I think it's wrong for her to reveal it? No. It's her character. She's had this planned long before the question was asked. I'm glad it came from her mouth and not as a rumor related to the Half-Blood Prince movie.

7. Do you believe that in revealing a gay character, it will harm the Harry Potter franchise?

It could. It's not actually in the text. The gay character is Dumbledore, an important character in the story, but he doesn't have sexual relations or romantic relations with anyone in the story (Grindelwald, but it's not specified in the text). The gay character is not part of the trio or the students (though we speculate) attending Hogwarts, so it shouldn't, imo, have that much impact.

8. Do you think JKR kept Dumbledore's sexuality private because it wasn't a key plot device or because there was a danger she wouldn't be able to get it either passed her publishers or that she was personally doubtful it would hold amongst all her fans?

She claims the reason she kept Dumbledore's sexuality private because then fans would be able to figure out the Grindlewald bit, but I don't believe that. Sure, some would speculate and might accurately guess, but it wouldn't be that obvious (maybe some would theorize Dumbledore/Flamel or Dumbledore/Snape). I seriously think she waited until after the series so that it wouldn't affect things as much. Read the entire series and fans will see how relevant that information is and how their opinion of Dumbledore changes or doesn't change.

9. What are the merits in having a gay character in the books and what do you think the negatives of that could be?

Some will avoid reading the books and that will cause others to want to read the books.

10. Had Dumbledore been revealed as gay from the beginning, do you believe the books would have done as well? Would they have been classed as children's books by many? Would you have bought them?

You want me to be honest? The answer is no. That's because, honestly, some would be afraid that he would have a homosexual relationship in the book. People can be prejudice whether it's on purpose or not. I wouldn't have avoided the books simply because Dumbledore's gay. I avoided the books for a long time because they were popular and didn't think they would be something I would enjoy. When I read Sorcerer's Stone I realized how wrong I was. Dumbledore being out of the closet at that point wouldn't have changed a darn thing. But, I know, not everyone is like me and some would be afraid to crack open a Harry Potter book because of Dumbledore.
Oh, the books would still be classified as children's books due to how they are written, not due to a character's sexuality.

What's to come?

11. Do you believe that JKR will announce any more big revelations in years to come? If so, do you have any theories on what that big revelation might be?

What big revelation? Another character's gay? Ginny and Harry divorce after Lily leaves Hogwarts? Rose has Scorpius's illegitimate child? Al Potter runs away and tries to become the next Dark Lord? George becomes a criminal and starts selling Venemous Tentacula seeds on the black market? Arthur Weasley murders a man? James Potter II is bitten by a werewolf and becomes the next Fenrir Greyback? Harry's grandparents did not die of a wizarding disease, but instead were evil wizards sentenced to Azkaban?
Seriously, I don't think she has any more "big" revelations, although just because I can't think of what they would be doesn't mean she doesn't have some surprise up her sleeve. She did create a very detailed world and we haven't seen all of the details. Hopefully, she does get to writing that encyclopedia so we can get all the revelations out.

12. If a Harry Potter encyclopedia is released, what would you like to see in it ? Would you buy it?

What would I like to see? Maps, lots and lots of maps. I want maps of The Burrow, Grimmauld Place, Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade, Hogwarts...
Yes, I would buy it. I think of it as a fanfic writer's dream. Sure, we need to be able to use our imagination, but this, imo, would help us write the characters as realistically as possible. I don't mind reading AU fiction, but I'm not an AU writer.

[Dawa Lhamo]

There's a tiny little suspicion in the back of my head that says that she chose to reveal it now because the vocal Christian anti-Potter movement has subsided a bit with the focus on the Christian themes in the books... And that she doesn't want her books to fall off the most banned and challenged books list, since she does say that it's a point of pride. A gay Dumbledore erases much of the good PR that "Christian themes" built up and ensures her books will always be on that list. ^_^

Seriously, though, I don't think that she had an ulterior motive. I believe her when she says she always thought of him as gay. I don't think there was much in the books to lead one to that idea (we never really knew either way anything about DD's love life).

I don't think it has a bearing on the story... though maybe he kept it quiet himself (like his association with Grindelwald) to avoid harassment... I think she just brought it up since someone asked her about Dumbledore's love life.

I'm happy to accept her word on the matter, no matter how she conveys it, be it website or interview or book.

Though I'm much more suspicious about taking her word on anything to do with math and numbers. ^_^

I would *love* to see her expand her website to incorporate more answers, little things, etc... more Easter Eggs with scans of her notes. And I'll, of course, buy the encyclopedia when/if it comes out.

[doepatr0nus]

6. The revelation concerning the sexuality of Dumbledore has split many fans, and not all down a pro-gay/anti-gay line. There are those who consider it to be something of a literary faux pas. That in revealing something that could have been included in the story, after the series has finished, suggests there was possibly another motive for keeping the information quiet. With all that in mind, please look at the following:

Do you believe that she should have:

1. Revealed Dumbledore's sexuality to the reader during the writing of the series?
2. When asked about Dumbledore's 'true love', kept quiet and revealed it in a more official capacity (through her website / encyclopedia) at a later date?
3. Avoided revealing anything about his sexuality altogether until a much later date?

Or do you believe she was right in the way she revealed it?

I was caught off guard, I wouldn't have guessed it. But in retrospect, I think it makes perfect sense! And it certainly doesn't change my opinion about how amazing Dumbledore is. I personally would have liked it if she revealed his sexuality in Book 7, it would have been an awesome twist! Possibly she was afraid that it would anger people or disillusion fans? I mean, this isn't a very tolerant world we live in right now. So, I think she made the right decision in withholding the information until now. Also, I feel that with Harry Potter 7, some things are better left unsaid. I feel like a lot of the book is how you interpret it. And I don't think it matters HOW she revealed it. Any way she reveals any information about any character, it will be immediately seized upon and dissected and blown up into a storm by us fans, haha.

[PrivetHedge]

Originally Posted by Morgoth

Questions:
1. Do you believe JK Rowling is doing the right thing in revealing bits and pieces of information in the manner she has?

As a matter of personal preference, no. I was mostly content with the amount of information in the epilogue of DH. To convey all the answers everyone wants, she would have had to write another book, which she may yet do (the Encyclopedia). Yet before this book had been on sale for 24 hours, she started giving more and more information with each interview.

2. When an author reveals a lot of information in this manner, it is referred to by some fans as The Word of God. Is this always the case or can authors slip up off the page as much as they can, on it? Can we rely on their off-the-cuff remarks or should we take it with a pinch of salt?

I try to view it as canon, on a par with the printed book, until and unless something contradicts it. JKR has shown that she can make errors, change her mind, and/or ignore previous statements.

3. Do you think JKR should expand the functionality of her website to allow for fans to vote more frequently on key issues of the series?

Vote on what issues? Simply what question will she answer next, or what answers we don't want to hear? I would like to see the site updated more frequently and regularly. Since it's a site about her work and not just Harry Potter books, I expect we'll see more changes reflecting her work on other projects.

4. Do you think authors like JKR should restrict official canon information to named outlets such as personal websites, chosen fansites and certain media groups so that people can filter out the wishful thinking from the actual plot points, or would that be too difficult to achieve?

I think she has long since made it pretty clear that official information comes through to us only her outlets or the publishers and movie studios, as appropriate. The major fansites seem to do a pretty good job of remembering that and reminding us. The recent Dumbledore revelation came as part of what I would categorize as an official, sanctioned function.

5. Do you agree or disagree that JKR reveals information rather too liberally and should she restrain herself for the sake of not upsetting the apple cart?

It's her apple cart and her apples, isn't it?

6. The revelation ...
Do you believe that she should have:

1. Revealed Dumbledore's sexuality to the reader during the writing of the series?

1. No, not in the books themselves. The character's sexuality had nothing to do with the character's role in the plot. Should JKR have gone down the whole list of teachers? Minerva - hetero, single; Sprout - hetero, married (you know her husband - short fellow, works for a major Muggle frozen vegetable company), etc... Should she have revealed it sooner (between books)? I don't know.
   

   When asked about Dumbledore's 'true love', kept quiet and revealed it in a more official capacity (through her website / encyclopedia) at a later date?

   Dodging the question would only have raised more questions.
   

   Avoided revealing anything about his sexuality altogether until a much later date?

   If JKR feels so strongly about the character's sexuality, the truth is generally preferable to lies.

7. Do you believe that in revealing a gay character, it will harm the Harry Potter franchise?

Financially? Only marginally, among particular conservative groups, most of which are probably already disinclined to the franchise because of witchcraft issues.

8. Do you think JKR kept Dumbledore's sexuality private because it wasn't a key plot device or because there was a danger she wouldn't be able to get it either passed her publishers or that she was personally doubtful it would hold amongst all her fans?

I don't know. At least partially the former. By the second half of the series, some minor elements of sexuality had been included, and she would have had an idea of the size and scope of her fan base. Earlier on, especially trying to sell the first book, she might have been a little less bold.

9. What are the merits in having a gay character in the books and what do you think the negatives of that could be?

To what extent did we really have a gay character in the books? The character is in his role and context. His sexuality didn't really enter into it - you might well call him closeted.

10. Had Dumbledore been revealed as gay from the beginning, do you believe the books would have done as well? Would they have been classed as children's books by many? Would you have bought them?

I don't know.

11. Do you believe that JKR will announce any more big revelations in years to come? If so, do you have any theories on what that big revelation might be?

I have no idea. Probably. Any significant additional bio for the the Marauders would probably count as 'big'.

12. If a Harry Potter encyclopedia is released, what would you like to see in it ? Would you buy it?

I would probably buy it. I would like to see extensive illustrations and maybe even maps. Certainly cutaways - think of the The Way Things Work books.

[RavenEye]

Post-Series Revelations and their impact on the fans

1. Do you believe JK Rowling is doing the right thing in revealing bits and pieces of information in the manner she has?
Yes and no. Anything that affects the plot or a character's development that becomes relevant to the plot should be in the books rather than in extra interviews. Details like Neville marrying Hannah wouldn't have had any impact on the story so to reveal it in an interview is fine, Dumbledore having been in love with Grindelwald is something that was relevant to the plot and should have been mentioned (the end of Lily's letter to Sirius being the ideal medium).

2. When an author reveals a lot of information in this manner, it is referred to by some fans as The Word of God. Is this always the case or can authors slip up off the page as much as they can, on it? Can we rely on their off-the-cuff remarks or should we take it with a pinch of salt?
I don't think an interview answer can ever be regarded as entirely accurate in its detail (she's got the maths wrong in giving out ages, for instance).

3. Do you think JKR should expand the functionality of her website to allow for fans to vote more frequently on key issues of the series?
I think the vote feature is necessarily sparse because Jo hasn't the time to answer all the key issues.

4. Do you think authors like JKR should restrict official canon information to named outlets such as personal websites, chosen fansites and certain media groups so that people can filter out the wishful thinking from the actual plot points, or would that be too difficult to achieve?
It would be all over the other fan sites in no time anyway. There will always be leaks and speculation.

5. Do you agree or disagree that JKR reveals information rather too liberally and should she restrain herself for the sake of not upsetting the apple cart?
She's been rather coy in most interviews, so no. I don't see her worrying about critics much.

The Dumbledore Revelation and the way it was handled

6. The revelation concerning the sexuality of Dumbledore has split many fans, and not all down a pro-gay/anti-gay line. There are those who consider it to be something of a literary faux pas. That in revealing something that could have been included in the story, after the series has finished, suggests there was possibly another motive for keeping the information quiet. With all that in mind, please look at the following:

Do you believe that she should have:

1. Revealed Dumbledore's sexuality to the reader during the writing of the series?
Yes, it was relevant to the plot: specifically why he waited so long to confront Grindelwald and probably why Grindelwald surrendered so readily as implied by Rita Skeeter.

2. When asked about Dumbledore's 'true love', kept quiet and revealed it in a more official capacity (through her website / encyclopedia) at a later date?
I can't see why an interview given to fans would be any less official than her website or encyclopaedia.

3. Avoided revealing anything about his sexuality altogether until a much later date?
No, it should have been in the book - or specifically the nature of his relationship with Grindelwald should have been.

7. Do you believe that in revealing a gay character, it will harm the Harry Potter franchise?
It seems to be doing well enough as it is. I don't think this revelation is going to cause much of an impact in Britain anyway. I don't know about elsewhere, although I would expect much of Europe to be similar.

8. Do you think JKR kept Dumbledore's sexuality private because it wasn't a key plot device or because there was a danger she wouldn't be able to get it either passed her publishers or that she was personally doubtful it would hold amongst all her fans?
I don't know. IMO it is relevant to the Grindelwald plot, I don't know the publishers' views. I don't think it would have been all that relevant in any of the books except DH.

9. What are the merits in having a gay character in the books and what do you think the negatives of that could be?
Well, statistically there ought to be a lot more than one (probably two, and maybe three if Doge was also gay) gay character out of Jo's enormous cast list. The merits are promoting tolerance by showing that gays are a normal part of society and should be treated as such. I can't think of any negatives.

10. Had Dumbledore been revealed as gay from the beginning, do you believe the books would have done as well? Would they have been classed as children's books by many? Would you have bought them?
I can see the extremist types getting even more up in arms than they got over witchcraft, yes. I think they still would have done very well and they still would be classed as children's books. I would have bought them still.

11. Do you believe that JKR will announce any more big revelations in years to come? If so, do you have any theories on what that big revelation might be?
I hope not, all the big revelations should have been included in the books. Perhaps we'll finally get to find out what went on during the "Missing Day" - I predict it will be entirely boring like Hagrid and Harry hiding out at a safe house.

12. If a Harry Potter encyclopedia is released, what would you like to see in it ? Would you buy it?
I would expect more on the workings of magic, a bit more about the minor characters and their motivations as well as who married who and what everyone did for a living. I think I'd buy it, yes.

[RainbowBrite]

Originally Posted by _Zd_Phoenix_

Personally I felt the big recent revelation was good for the series, but it should have been in the book, as it added to it significantly in both plot and in what stance the book takes on tolerance as a whole, despite being for children and the traditional prejudice against gay people when creating children's literature/media.

I agree. Announcing this after the fact negates the good it could have done within the series in my opinion.

I think it would be a great shame to overly-regulate individual imagination.

Books are not meant to be complete universes, it blunts the point of them, there is meant to be room for individual thought and reaction and construction.

My thoughts exactly. In Jo's effort to "close all the holes" she's limiting our capacity to fill them in ourselves. I rarely read interviews for this reason, but this nugget of info was too controversial for the news to ignore, so i heard it without looking for it.

Personally I really dislike the idea, I think it restricts individual imagination and also the worth of the main series as works of literature. You get guides for computer games, you should not get them with books.

Part of me agrees with this, but part of me disagrees. There are countless "guides" to go along with the Star Trek and Star Wars universes that outline details never explored in the respective series. Of course, i do not believe those are character driven. They more fully describe the technology and politics of the universes, if i remember correctly. And details like that may add to the experience for hard core HP fans. But telling too many details about the characters, when those details aren't relevant to the story, could have negative effects it would seem.

I may change my mind after letting this info sink in for awhile. But i just heard it this morning and this is my initial reaction.

[LoveWeasleys]

Post-Series Revelations and their impact on the fans

1. Do you believe JK Rowling is doing the right thing in revealing bits and pieces of information in the manner she has?
Yes, these are her stories and I think she has the right to say anything she wants about them.

2. When an author reveals a lot of information in this manner, it is referred to by some fans as The Word of God. Is this always the case or can authors slip up off the page as much as they can, on it? Can we rely on their off-the-cuff remarks or should we take it with a pinch of salt?
I think that it is a manner of how a person choses to believe what she says. For me personally I take what she says as a deeper view of what she wrote, so I go with it...whether I like it or not. But, the beauty is, is that people can also choose not to believe it too, because it is not written in the books.

3. Do you think JKR should expand the functionality of her website to allow for fans to vote more frequently on key issues of the series?
That would be great. I guess I am not sure what vote means here...but it depends on how much she would want our feedback on an issue...

4. Do you think authors like JKR should restrict official canon information to named outlets such as personal websites, chosen fansites and certain media groups so that people can filter out the wishful thinking from the actual plot points, or would that be too difficult to achieve?
No, I think they have the right to say what she wants about her books whenever she wants too, and people can still choose whether or not they view it that way...

5. Do you agree or disagree that JKR reveals information rather too liberally and should she restrain herself for the sake of not upsetting the apple cart?
I think I answered this above. I disagree that she reveals too liberally and she should not have to restrain herself.

The Dumbledore Revelation and the way it was handled

6. The revelation concerning the sexuality of Dumbledore has split many fans, and not all down a pro-gay/anti-gay line. There are those who consider it to be something of a literary faux pas. That in revealing something that could have been included in the story, after the series has finished, suggests there was possibly another motive for keeping the information quiet. With all that in mind, please look at the following:

Do you believe that she should have:

I believe she was fine with the way she revealed it. I personaly was happy with the pairing and would have been fine that it was on the page, however since it doesn't sit well with others, I rather like that she did this way because then people can still choose whether they view Dumbledore that way.

7. Do you believe that in revealing a gay character, it will harm the Harry Potter franchise?
Sadly, I think for some it may. I think it gives people like Laura Mallory another stone to throw...but good, because what progress has come without a fight? And it just shows how far we have yet to come as a society to not only tolerate but to accept and love. Bravo to Jo for coming out with this.

8. Do you think JKR kept Dumbledore's sexuality private because it wasn't a key plot device or because there was a danger she wouldn't be able to get it either passed her publishers or that she was personally doubtful it would hold amongst all her fans?
I think the main reason was it really wasn't a key plot device...why does it matter, besides enhance the issues surrounding Dumbledore and Grindelwald. For the specific plot it wasn't necessary, IMO. The hints are there (IMO) if you choose to see them.

9. What are the merits in having a gay character in the books and what do you think the negatives of that could be?
I think the merits is that it gives a possitive role model for people that are gay. I also like that some day it may be a stepping stone to teaching my daughter about tolerance and love.

The negatives could be parents that don't want their children to know about it for whatever reason or parents that won't let their children read the books because of it. (I don't agree with that, but as parents they have the right to raise their kids the way they see fit.)

10. Had Dumbledore been revealed as gay from the beginning, do you believe the books would have done as well? Would they have been classed as children's books by many? Would you have bought them?
This is hard because I really don't know. I would like to say that it would not make a difference, because for me personally it wouldn't make a difference, but I just don't know how others would view this.

What's to come?

11. Do you believe that JKR will announce any more big revelations in years to come? If so, do you have any theories on what that big revelation might be?
OOOoooo I hope so! Maybe that Lily was really in love with the Giant Squid...??

I don't know whatever "big" revelation would be revealed, but I hope we get more!

12. If a Harry Potter encyclopedia is released, what would you like to see in it ? Would you buy it?
Of course I would bye it
More about the Marauder days
Back stories for different characters
Family trees
Houses of the next generation
What happened to all the other characters that weren't in the epilouge
and a bunch of other information that I can't all list

[IntricateLogic]

1. Do you believe JK Rowling is doing the right thing in revealing bits and pieces of information in the manner she has?
Yes, I do. There's only so much you can put into seven books, and I'm very glad that she has answers for all of our non-plot-related questions.

2. When an author reveals a lot of information in this manner, it is referred to by some fans as The Word of God. Is this always the case or can authors slip up off the page as much as they can, on it? Can we rely on their off-the-cuff remarks or should we take it with a pinch of salt?
I'm pretty sure we can rely on what the author says. When she is joking, it is obvious, but when she tells us a bit of info. from the story that we don't really see in the books, I'm going to listen.

3. Do you think JKR should expand the functionality of her website to allow for fans to vote more frequently on key issues of the series?
I think that JKR should be able to do whatever she wants. If that includes allowing fans to discuss/vote more, then so be it.

4. Do you think authors like JKR should restrict official canon information to named outlets such as personal websites, chosen fansites and certain media groups so that people can filter out the wishful thinking from the actual plot points, or would that be too difficult to achieve?
In my opinion, if something is said somewhere, everywhere is going to find out by the next day. So, it would be too difficult to restrict information.

5. Do you agree or disagree that JKR reveals information rather too liberally and should she restrain herself for the sake of not upsetting the apple cart?
I think that now that the books are over, and most if not all of the die-hard fans who are hanging on JKR's every word, she is at liberty to say whatever she pleases, and reveal whatever little tid-bits of information she pleases.

6.Do you believe that she should have:

Revealed Dumbledore's sexuality to the reader during the writing of the series?
When asked about Dumbledore's 'true love', kept quiet and revealed it in a more official capacity (through her website / encyclopedia) at a later date?
Avoided revealing anything about his sexuality altogether until a much later date?

Or do you believe she was right in the way she revealed it?
I think that she was perfectly right. She was asked a question, and she gave the answer. If some people don't like it, fine, but JKR has a right to give extra information about her characters.

7. Do you believe that in revealing a gay character, it will harm the Harry Potter franchise?
It might. There are some people who are strongly against gays, and that may have an effect, but overall, it's not mentioned anywhere in the books about Dumbledore, so I don't think there is a reason to give up Harry Potter because of it.

8. Do you think JKR kept Dumbledore's sexuality private because it wasn't a key plot device or because there was a danger she wouldn't be able to get it either passed her publishers or that she was personally doubtful it would hold amongst all her fans?
I honestly think it was because it wasn't important to the plot. She said, "If I'd known you'd be this happy about it, I'd have told you years ago." This leads me to conclude that she wasn't hiding it for any particular reason.

9. What are the merits in having a gay character in the books and what do you think the negatives of that could be?
The merits--Exactly as Emerson said on Geraldo
The negatives--Some people may turn against Harry Potter now, and Laura Mallory (is that her name?) might try to get the books out of libraries again

10. Had Dumbledore been revealed as gay from the beginning, do you believe the books would have done as well? Would they have been classed as children's books by many? Would you have bought them?
I would have read them anyway, because that doesn't bother me, and it's not important. However, I think that the people it does bother might have stuck up their noses a bit.

11. Do you believe that JKR will announce any more big revelations in years to come? If so, do you have any theories on what that big revelation might be?
The only huge revelations I can think of is what happened to everyone after DH. The epilogue only covered so much.

12. If a Harry Potter encyclopedia is released, what would you like to see in it ? Would you buy it?
I would buy it the moment it comes out so that I can learn the answers to any and all loose ends.

[LilyDreamsOn]

1. Do you believe JK Rowling is doing the right thing in revealing bits and pieces of information in the manner she has?

I think it's perfectly fine. We fans love to know all the little tidbits, and because she knows the answers, having created such a vast and complicated world full of incredibly well developed characters, I don't see why she shouldn't answer our questions. If she didn't want to, that's fine; but she's fine with answering and we're glad to know (usually). It's also a nice interaction between herself and the fans, which not many authors have.

2. When an author reveals a lot of information in this manner, it is referred to by some fans as The Word of God. Is this always the case or can authors slip up off the page as much as they can, on it? Can we rely on their off-the-cuff remarks or should we take it with a pinch of salt?

I usually take her information as canon, unless she says "I think" or "I believe" - because if she's certain about it, it could have made it's way into the books if it were important enough. When it comes to opinions, though, I sometimes differ from Jo, so I don't take her opinion as fact in the HP world.

3. Do you think JKR should expand the functionality of her website to allow for fans to vote more frequently on key issues of the series?

I think her site is pretty good as it is. I'm not entirely sure what is meant by voting on the "key issues of the series" though...

4. Do you think authors like JKR should restrict official canon information to named outlets such as personal websites, chosen fansites and certain media groups so that people can filter out the wishful thinking from the actual plot points, or would that be too difficult to achieve?

Nah, not really. It would cut down on false quoting and such, but it's working out fine as it is now.

5. Do you agree or disagree that JKR reveals information rather too liberally and should she restrain herself for the sake of not upsetting the apple cart?

I love the way she reveals information. She's very open about it and I admire that. She's not revealing information just to make people happy, she's doing it because that's how it is and that's how she thought it up.

The Dumbledore Revelation and the way it was handled
Do you believe that she should have:

1. Revealed Dumbledore's sexuality to the reader during the writing of the series?
2. When asked about Dumbledore's 'true love', kept quiet and revealed it in a more official capacity (through her website / encyclopedia) at a later date?
3. Avoided revealing anything about his sexuality altogether until a much later date?

Or do you believe she was right in the way she revealed it?

I think she was perfectly right in saying it the way she did. Someone asked her a straightfoward question about Dumbledore's love life, and she gave a straightforward answer. What's wrong with that? Dancing around the question would have made it look like it was a huge deal - and people made it to be a huge deal, but it really isn't.

7. Do you believe that in revealing a gay character, it will harm the Harry Potter franchise?

If it does significantly, the world is really closed minded and that thought disturbs me. I've already seen some backlash and some rather horrid comments made about all this and I've already been disgusted with some fans. If people don't want to read Harry Potter because they're prejudiced against gays, so be it, as long as they don't force their opinions on others and attack Jo and her loyal fans for their decisions.

8. Do you think JKR kept Dumbledore's sexuality private because it wasn't a key plot device or because there was a danger she wouldn't be able to get it either passed her publishers or that she was personally doubtful it would hold amongst all her fans?

You know, I really doubt the later. The His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman has been attacked non-stop for being anti-religious (there's a good reason for that, mind) but it's still made it pretty far and passed by publishers, and it's also considered a chidren's story by many. So I doubt the publishers would go nuts over this, especially because I suspect if it had been revealed in the books, it would have been towards the end when things like Molly's swear made it through.

I think Jo kept it out because, first of all, it wasn't important to the plot. As we needed to know about Dumbledore was his friendship with Grindelwald - yes there was one-sided love, but it remained a friendship - and his past with his family, and the whole "Great Good" stuff. We didn't need to know he was in love with Grindelwald, it wouldn't have changed anything. Secondly, it was a nice way of letting people judge Dumbledore free of prejudices. We all saw him in different lights after DH, and we judged him based on his choices and actions, which is what we all SHOULD judge people on. Telling us after our minds have all been made up allowed us to see that, no matter who he was attracted to, women or men, Dumbledore was still Dumbledore, the wise old man who was instrumental to the downfall of lord Voldemort.

9. What are the merits in having a gay character in the books and what do you think the negatives of that could be?

Well, having them in the books makes it far more realistic. Maybe it would have been better to have, say, a gay couple in the story, but it wasn't entirely necessary to the plot so I won't complain. It's just another way to show that who we are born does not define who we are, it is our choices that matter - I highly trust every single gay person I know who has told me first hand that it is not a choice, it is entirely natural.

The negatives? The only negative I can think of is that some children won't be allowed to read the books now because their parents are too narrow-minded and, despite what they might say, prejudiced. And that isn't negative of the books, mind, that's negative of the people reading them.

10. Had Dumbledore been revealed as gay from the beginning, do you believe the books would have done as well? Would they have been classed as children's books by many? Would you have bought them?

Personally, I'm sad to say I don't think they would have done as well, because they would have had the added controversy of homosexuality, which is far more common that the hate of witchcraft which is usually only shared by religious groups. I'd like to believe it wouldn't make a difference, but the world isn't perfect.

I still would have bought them, and loved them just the same. I've never had a problem with homosexuality, because from a young age I've know my cousin was gay and all the trouble he's been through has been a real eye-opener for me, showing how ugly the world can be. I'm sad that many kids out there will grow up, and are growing up right now, in prejudiced households and will learn from the perspectives of their parents, and this problem will continue. I'm glad anti-gays are slowly becoming a minority, and that some places are now allowing gay marriages (so proud of Canada). So yeah, I'd definitely still buy the books!

What's to come?

11. Do you believe that JKR will announce any more big revelations in years to come? If so, do you have any theories on what that big revelation might be?

I have no idea of any other revelations. This one was kind of a shock because I didn't think any new big information would surface after DH, but this one had such a huge impact on the fandom, so who knows? Personally I don't think this was that big of a revelation, just more of a shock that it actually happened.

12. If a Harry Potter encyclopedia is released, what would you like to see in it ? Would you buy it?

I'd like to see all the nit-picky details about the characters I love - most importantly, the Marauders. I would love to hear all about their times at Hogwarts and afterwards, too. They're fascinating characters to me, so I'm crossing my fingers that Jo thought up a few more things about them.

[Melaszka]

Post-Series Revelations and their impact on the fans

1. Do you believe JK Rowling is doing the right thing in revealing bits and pieces of information in the manner she has?

It's probably the right thing, because that's what most fans seem to want. I was really surprised by the number of people who complained when DH came out that JKR had broken her promise to reveal "everything" because she hadn't explained every minor detail about every minor character.

Personally, I'd rather be left to fill in more of the gaps myself - one of the reasons why I prefer books to film/TV is that I feel I can use more imagination and I've always strongly believed that the author and the reader should work in partnership to create meaning. Sorry, I know that sounds pretentious, but it's honestly what I feel and I can't think of a less farty way of saying it.

2. When an author reveals a lot of information in this manner, it is referred to by some fans as The Word of God. Is this always the case or can authors slip up off the page as much as they can, on it? Can we rely on their off-the-cuff remarks or should we take it with a pinch of salt?

It's different with most authors, but with JKR she does seem to have thought up these characters in minute detail and I think she's honest and consistent with most things she says. I really don't think she's making this stuff up as she goes along - I get the sense that she's lived with these characters for years and they're more real to her than real people.

Where she does "slip up" it tends to be in mechanical details that don't really matter (I think we all know that Maths isn't her strongest suit, and figures she's given e.g. for the number of Hogwarts students, or dates in the timeline, don't always add up, but that really doesn't matter to me - it doesn't affect the essence of the books at all. )

But I think readers have the right to ignore what she says and imagine their own scenarios, if that's what they want.

4. Do you think authors like JKR should restrict official canon information to named outlets such as personal websites, chosen fansites and certain media groups so that people can filter out the wishful thinking from the actual plot points, or would that be too difficult to achieve?

I think anything which is indispensable to the plot is already in the books. Nobody needs to know this new information to make sense of the series, so i don't think it matters if fans miss it because it's not on an official site. Besides which, it soon becomes obvious which releases are official and which are spurious.

Do you believe that she should have:

Revealed Dumbledore's sexuality to the reader during the writing of the series?

It's hard to see how she could have done that in Books 1-6 without being gratuitous. He's a headmaster in a school and the books are from his student's viewpoint. What responsible teacher (of whatever orientation) discuses his lovelife with his students? And it wasn't at all relevant to the plot in the first 6 books.

It could have come out in book 7 with the whole Grindelwald thing, but that seemed rushed enough as it was.

She's certainly not cheated anybody by leaving it until now, as she never gave any sugegstion he was heterosexual, either. If readers assume that any character is straight unless explicitly stated otherwise, that's their mistake.

When asked about Dumbledore's 'true love', kept quiet and revealed it in a more official capacity (through her website / encyclopedia) at a later date?
Avoided revealing anything about his sexuality altogether until a much later date?

No, I think she has a right to answer direct questions when asked. Keeping it quiet would be capitulating to the homophobes by implying that it was shameful or damaging information.

7. Do you believe that in revealing a gay character, it will harm the Harry Potter franchise?

I would hope not. The HP franchise has survived Ralph Fiennes's antics in an aircraft toilet totally unscathed. If having a character who incidentally happens to be gay (when there's no seual content in the wa that character is treated whatsoever) causes it harm then it is a sad, sad comment on society.

8. Do you think JKR kept Dumbledore's sexuality private because it wasn't a key plot device or because there was a danger she wouldn't be able to get it either passed her publishers or that she was personally doubtful it would hold amongst all her fans?

Mostly I think because it wasn't relevant to the plot. I imagine the publishers may have put pressure on her to keep it out of the books. I really don't think she would have withheld it for fear of losing fans. I've always got the feeling she wrote these books primarily for herself, not expecting it to be the huge success it has been, and has generally been true to her vision.

9. What are the merits in having a gay character in the books and what do you think the negatives of that could be?

The fact that the gay character is a wise and almost unambiguously good character creates a very positive role model of gay people. The fact that he wsn't a mincing camp stereotype and his sexuality is just one incidental thing about him, it doesn't define his whole character or how he is treated, also helps to explode a lot of prejudices and sends out the mesage that being gay is no great deal.

On the negative side, though, the fact that his love for Grindelwald corrupted him and made him do the most evil and irresponsible deeds of his whole life, does send out mixed messages - I'm sure it wasn't intended that way, but it could be twisted to suggest that gay feelings corrupt you.
11. Do you believe that JKR will announce any more big revelations in years to come? If so, do you have any theories on what that big revelation might be?

I think anything that impacts on the plot is in the books.

12. If a Harry Potter encyclopedia is released, what would you like to see in it ? Would you buy it?

No.

[siriusblackhead]

1. Do you believe JK Rowling is doing the right thing in revealing bits and pieces of information in the manner she has?

I think it's fine. We knew we weren't going to get all the answers in the books, but if we still want to know it, and she's willing to tell, then bring it on, I say!

2. When an author reveals a lot of information in this manner, it is referred to by some fans as The Word of God. Is this always the case or can authors slip up off the page as much as they can, on it? Can we rely on their off-the-cuff remarks or should we take it with a pinch of salt?

Well, since she is the author after all, I'll take what she says as truth, becuase only she has the authority to say such things. Even if it is off the top off her head, I'll still take her word for it. She gave us these amazing books after all!

3. Do you think JKR should expand the functionality of her website to allow for fans to vote more frequently on key issues of the series?

I don't really care. if that's what she wants to do, then she'll do it. we can't make her do anything

4. Do you think authors like JKR should restrict official canon information to named outlets such as personal websites, chosen fansites and certain media groups so that people can filter out the wishful thinking from the actual plot points, or would that be too difficult to achieve?

I think it would be too difficult to achieve. Everyone's going to interpret everything different anyway.

5. Do you agree or disagree that JKR reveals information rather too liberally and should she restrain herself for the sake of not upsetting the apple cart?

Heck no. i love it when she reveals information. It helps me from my Harry Poter withdrawal and is actually stuff I wanted to know or am intereseted in.

The Dumbledore Revelation and the way it was handled
Do you believe that she should have:

Revealed Dumbledore's sexuality to the reader during the writing of the series?
When asked about Dumbledore's 'true love', kept quiet and revealed it in a more official capacity (through her website / encyclopedia) at a later date?
Avoided revealing anything about his sexuality altogether until a much later date?

Or do you believe she was right in the way she revealed it?

I think she was right in keeping it out of the books; it made people love and respect him without having a biased opinion about him. But people having been asking this question for years, and i suppose that she just finally decided to tell the truth.

7. Do you believe that in revealing a gay character, it will harm the Harry Potter franchise?

If it does, then people have a real problem. I personally don't belive in it, but I am tolerant of it, and it really doesn't change my opinion on them as a person. People just need to get over themselves. They're still amazing books, whether Dumbledore is gay or not.

8. Do you think JKR kept Dumbledore's sexuality private because it wasn't a key plot device or because there was a danger she wouldn't be able to get it either passed her publishers or that she was personally doubtful it would hold amongst all her fans?

I just think that it really wasn't important to the plot. The man is a hundred something years old - we really don't need to know all about his love life. And there was even some signs there, most people just didn't see them.

9. What are the merits in having a gay character in the books and what do you think the negatives of that could be?

Merits- it makes the books more realistic. There isn't a world where EVERYONE is straight. and the negatives would probably have to be for all the prejudiced people who will refuse to read the books.

10. Had Dumbledore been revealed as gay from the beginning, do you believe the books would have done as well? Would they have been classed as children's books by many? Would you have bought them?

There probably wouldn't have been as many sales, and all those religious people who freaked out because the books were promoting "witchcraft" would have blown a gasket about this. They probably wouldn't be considered children's books, either, sadly, but they also never really were to begin with. And I would have still bought the books, heck yes!

What's to come?

11. Do you believe that JKR will announce any more big revelations in years to come? If so, do you have any theories on what that big revelation might be?

I think she will more revelations, but probably in bits in pieces here and there. Whenever she thinks of something, or gets asked a really good question, she will probably answer it.

12. If a Harry Potter encyclopedia is released, what would you like to see in it ? Would you buy it?

Uh, yeah! I really want to hear more about the Marauders, and why lily finally fell in love with James.

[DrNordo]

Moving my post to different thread.

I was very disappointed when I heard that JK made this announcement and now think quite a bit less about her as a writer. First let me set the record by saying that I think that homosexuality is wrong morally. Am I a homophobe? No. Do I have gay friends? Yes. Do I hate them? Of course not. But that is really not the point of this post.

My point is that JK took the cowardly way out in bringing this to the attention of the world. It really had nothing to do with the story, so leaving this information out of the novels did not have any impact whatsoever on the plot. However she obviously thought that it was important enough to reveal it in a very unsubtle fashion.

According to ABC news, Rowling revealed Dumbledore's sexuality in response to the question of whether or not Albus had ever been in love. She responded with, "Dumbledore is gay, actually." Dumbledore is gay, huh? Thanks for not even answering the question. Gay people can't love?

Anyways, the main point is that she obviously wanted people to know that he was gay, but she was too cowardly to put it in the novel where it could possibly negatively affect sales. Instead she waits until a press conference months after the release of the final book. The bulk of the sales have been made and she has little to lose.

In closing, I think that she should have either included it in the book series or that she had not even mentioned it. Would I have liked it if she had put it in the books? No, because I don't think it would have been appropriate, especially for children. However I would have respected her far more than I do now.

/end rant

[HMN]

Originally Posted by Xaquin

How would you (or any of you) have felt if she just said "he liked some girl once, but never followed up" or something equally as generic?

Would it have changed the way you view him?

Not at all. I never once thought about Dumbledore's sexuality - I sort of pictured him as asexual - since is love life was never, ever mentioned in the books. I remember a long time ago, in some interview JKR said something about one of the characters being married [I must go find that interview] and it wasn't until I read it that it occurred to me that yes, these teachers actually have social lives beyond teaching. I saw them the way Harry does, just as teachers.

I still believe that when JKR created this world she thought about every minute detail about each witch or wizard, and so she created people - people with personalities - and part of Dumbledore's just happened to be that he was gay. I think it was when the script writers for movie 6 put in the bit about Dumbledore liking some girl in his youth, it was the first time she realized that people assumed Dumbledore was not gay - maybe that was what prompted her to tell everyone.

Originally Posted by DrNordo

According to ABC news, Rowling revealed Dumbledore's sexuality in response to the question of whether or not Albus had ever been in love. She responded with, "Dumbledore is gay, actually." Dumbledore is gay, huh? Thanks for not even answering the question.

...Instead she waits until a press conference months after the release of the final book.

This is not entirely accurate information. Jo did answer the question. According to the transcript on the Leaky Cauldron website she answered this...

www.leakynews.com The question was: Did Dumbledore, who believed in the prevailing power of love, ever fall in love himself? JKR: My truthful answer to you... I always thought of Dumbledore as gay. [ovation.] ... Dumbledore fell in love with Grindelwald, and that that added to his horror when Grindelwald showed himself to be what he was. To an extent, do we say it excused Dumbledore a little more because falling in love can blind us to an extent? But, he met someone as brilliant as he was, and rather like Bellatrix he was very drawn to this brilliant person, and horribly, terribly let down by him. Yeah, that's how i always saw Dumbledore. In fact, recently I was in a script read through for the sixth film, and they had Dumbledore saying a line to Harry early in the script saying I knew a girl once, whose hair... [laughter]. I had to write a little note in the margin and slide it along to the scriptwriter, "Dumbledore's gay!" [laughter] "If I'd known it would make you so happy, I would have announced it years ago!"

It was not at a press conference, it was at Carnegie Hall in front of an audience of devout fans who won a sweepstakes through Scholastic.

[Desraelda]

About Dumbledore being gay ... why? What does it add to or detract from his character?

The question for me is would Dumbledore himself want to have been outed in that way? Or outed at all? I don't think so. He would have felt that the question of his sexuality had nothing to do with his primary purpose in life ... the passing on of his great knowledge and the protection and care of his students.

I personally see a youthful infatuation with Grindelwald and, more importantly, with Grindelwald's philosophies. With the death of Ariana, both those infatuations would have been shattered.

However, JKR is the author and Dumbledore is her character. She can make him whatever she pleases. It won't stop me reading the books.

[notasquib2]

Post-Series Revelations and their impact on the fans

1. Do you believe JK Rowling is doing the right thing in revealing bits and pieces of information in the manner she has?
This is the hardest question for me. I would almost rather she waited and then released the encyclopedia. It would be nice for some surprises to remain.

2. When an author reveals a lot of information in this manner, it is referred to by some fans as The Word of God. Is this always the case or can authors slip up off the page as much as they can, on it? Can we rely on their off-the-cuff remarks or should we take it with a pinch of salt?
I think they can slip up, certainly. JKR has been very successful at keeping secrets but she also loves her fans and wants to give them answers. The Neville/Hannah marriage feels a little like this.

3. Do you think JKR should expand the functionality of her website to allow for fans to vote more frequently on key issues of the series?
I don't know if voting has to be involved but expanding the site would be great. But, there are already so many sites for us to use.

4. Do you think authors like JKR should restrict official canon information to named outlets such as personal websites, chosen fansites and certain media groups so that people can filter out the wishful thinking from the actual plot points, or would that be too difficult to achieve?
NO no no no no. Wishful thinking = great discussion = fanfics = podcasts. If there were no wiggle room for facts, how much less fun we would have.The fandom is usually smart enough to sort the treasures from the trash.

5. Do you agree or disagree that JKR reveals information rather too liberally and should she restrain herself for the sake of not upsetting the apple cart?
I wish she would wait and release it in the encyclopedia, but I understand her desire to finally dish about it after so many years of keeping quiet about so much.

The Dumbledore Revelation and the way it was handled

6. The revelation concerning the sexuality of Dumbledore has split many fans, and not all down a pro-gay/anti-gay line. There are those who consider it to be something of a literary faux pas. That in revealing something that could have been included in the story, after the series has finished, suggests there was possibly another motive for keeping the information quiet. With all that in mind, please look at the following:

Do you believe that she should have:
Revealed Dumbledore's sexuality to the reader during the writing of the series?
No. I think she handled sexuality very well. This is something a lot of people aren't comfortable discussing with their young kids. In fact, I can imagine, after they are old enough and have read the books, one of them hearing a hateful comment against gays. Then parents can start the discussion by saying, "Well, Dumbledore was gay . . ."


When asked about Dumbledore's 'true love', kept quiet and revealed it in a more official capacity (through her website / encyclopedia) at a later date?
Avoided revealing anything about his sexuality altogether until a much later date?
I think this would have been fine.

Or do you believe she was right in the way she revealed it?
It's definitely her choice, but I think it would have been pretty uncomfortable to ride home in a car full of eleven-year-olds after that one.

7. Do you believe that in revealing a gay character, it will harm the Harry Potter franchise?
I think some will be turned off by it. Let's face it; he's a pretty pivotal character and it can be a pretty devisive issue.

8. Do you think JKR kept Dumbledore's sexuality private because it wasn't a key plot device or because there was a danger she wouldn't be able to get it either passed her publishers or that she was personally doubtful it would hold amongst all her fans?
She spent a lot of time keeping many things quiet about Dumbledore. This was one of them.

9. What are the merits in having a gay character in the books and what do you think the negatives of that could be?
It's a great avenue to discussing the subject with teens. My biggest negative is that it gives the people who already hate the series more ammunition. I just don't want to hear the "I told you these books were anti-Christian!" etc. I also wonder what will happen to the Catholic-based "Secrets of Harry Potter" podcast. That will be a shame if they stop it altogether.

10. Had Dumbledore been revealed as gay from the beginning, do you believe the books would have done as well? Would they have been classed as children's books by many? Would you have bought them?
I don't think they would have sold as well. Revealing this about Dumbledore would have made them lesser books, simply because it would have been a distraction. Talking about a woman he loved would have had a similar effect, although probably not to the same extent.


11. Do you believe that JKR will announce any more big revelations in years to come? If so, do you have any theories on what that big revelation might be?
This will almost certainly be the biggest. It came out of left field for me, although once I knew it I said to myself, "Oh. Yes." I think there could be some interesting information to follow from the Black family tree.

12. If a Harry Potter encyclopedia is released, what would you like to see in it ? Would you buy it?
I want details of the 19 years between the time Harry defeats Voldemort and the epilogue. I felt robbed of the characters' experiences. I especially wanted to see the Weasley's reactions to Ginny telling them Harry was her boyfriend. I want to know what happened to the Malfoys, who is now headmaster at Hogwarts—you name it. Clearly, I wasn't ready for this to be over.

Oh, and one more thing. I see Dumbledore and Grindelwald as a meeting of the minds, perhaps more than as a love affair. In an interview (possibly the one with Melissa and Emerson) the author stated that Dumbledore was isolated; that he didn't have any peers, really. He finds one enchanting person who is his intellectual equal. The only other person in his lifetime who was as accomplished was Voldemort, and he was way too young to appeal to Dumbledore. I can imagine Dumbledore having great feelings, whatever their nature, for this kindred spirit.

[LilyDreamsOn]

I find many fans have a somewhat hypocritical view on the whole matter. I've heard countless people say "I wish she hadn't said anything. What was the point? It didn't add to the plot, so why even bother?" - well, there's a good reason for it. We asked for it. Fans ask her question upon question about the nit-picky details about every character and every object and every animal and every situation in the plot to the point where it gets a bit ridiculous sometimes. None of those things are important to the plot - like who Draco's wife is, or what house all their kids end up in, or what was Neville's middle name - but we still want to know, and Jo answers us because she knows and she feels comfortable with answering.

So why is it such a huge deal now to learn that Dumbledore loved his childhood friend, who just so happened to be a guy? If Grindelwald was a woman, I would bet a hundred bucks - probably more, actually - that 99% of the fans who complained about this information would pass it off or smile, and pretty much forget about it. But since Dumbledore was gay, all of a sudden the information is pointless and shouldn't be known? I don't follow the logic. It's as if the information were unpleasant - and I believe many fans think it is - and that just means that many perceive being gay as a bad thing, as something to detract from his character. It would be like Harry meeting someone really interesting and then later finding out they were Slytherin and thinking "well, I wish I never found that out!" - that would be prejudice.

If that one fan hadn't asked the question, another would have eventually, and the whole thing would have happened all over again. We ask the questions, so we should accept the answers without saying "well, it was pretty pointless of you, Jo, to think this up about your complex characters". So is the problem here that the information is "pointless" or "useless to the plot"? Not for the most part, because we don't hear anyone fussing that any other information given was useless.

[Truthiness]

Originally Posted by LilyDreamsOn

I find many fans have a somewhat hypocritical view on the whole matter. I've heard countless people say "I wish she hadn't said anything. What was the point? It didn't add to the plot, so why even bother?" - well, there's a good reason for it. We asked for it. Fans ask her question upon question about the nit-picky details about every character and every object and every animal and every situation in the plot to the point where it gets a bit ridiculous sometimes. None of those things are important to the plot - like who Draco's wife is, or what house all their kids end up in, or what was Neville's middle name - but we still want to know, and Jo answers us because she knows and she feels comfortable with answering.

So why is it such a huge deal now to learn that Dumbledore loved his childhood friend, who just so happened to be a guy? If Grindelwald was a woman, I would bet a hundred bucks - probably more, actually - that 99% of the fans who complained about this information would pass it off or smile, and pretty much forget about it. But since Dumbledore was gay, all of a sudden the information is pointless and shouldn't be known? I don't follow the logic. It's as if the information were unpleasant - and I believe many fans think it is - and that just means that many perceive being gay as a bad thing, as something to detract from his character. It would be like Harry meeting someone really interesting and then later finding out they were Slytherin and thinking "well, I wish I never found that out!" - that would be prejudice.

If that one fan hadn't asked the question, another would have eventually, and the whole thing would have happened all over again. We ask the questions, so we should accept the answers without saying "well, it was pretty pointless of you, Jo, to think this up about your complex characters". So is the problem here that the information is "pointless" or "useless to the plot"? Not for the most part, because we don't hear anyone fussing that any other information given was useless.

I have the urge to copy and paste your reply all over the places where I've seen any type of complaints about the revelation being unecessary. You've just said it like it is and put eloquently what I've been longing to say. Kudos!

Also, can I just add that it upsets me that some, fortunately not the majority because most of the reactions I've seen have been pretty positive, but still some people seem more willing to accept a man practicing inappropriate charms on a goat (without complaining about it being unecessary to the plot) than, well, the revelation of a main character being gay? It boggles my mind.

[eatus_Benevol1]

1. Do you believe JK Rowling is doing the right thing in revealing bits and pieces of information in the manner she has? JKR has the right, as creator/author, to reveal anything at any time. That said, I wish she had revealed that Dumbledore was gay before book 7 came out. It would have prevented people questioning why she revealed something that could prove controversial and effect sales only after it was all done.

2. When an author reveals a lot of information in this manner, it is referred to by some fans as The Word of God. Is this always the case or can authors slip up off the page as much as they can, on it? Can we rely on their off-the-cuff remarks or should we take it with a pinch of salt?No author is infallible. It is possible for even JKR to say something that contradicts something else she said; or to say something that can be miscontrued or misunderstood. JKR put a lot of her life's effort into bringing us this story - I don't think she would ever intentionally want to slip up, but I am guessing that she has at one time or another. I don't think her saying "dumbledore is gay" was a slip up or accident, but I wish she could have said it with a little more explanation on why she was saying it at this point after the books had been written.

3. Do you think JKR should expand the functionality of her website to allow for fans to vote more frequently on key issues of the series? That would have been nice while the books were still being released. But now, I think this COS forum does a great job of having polls and the opportunity to discuss things.

4. Do you think authors like JKR should restrict official canon information to named outlets such as personal websites, chosen fansites and certain media groups so that people can filter out the wishful thinking from the actual plot points, or would that be too difficult to achieve? I think that would be too regimented.

5. Do you agree or disagree that JKR reveals information rather too liberally and should she restrain herself for the sake of not upsetting the apple cart? I think she is very brave to say that dumbledore is gay, because that is a lightning rod subject for a lot of people. So, I admire her for upsetting the apple cart. My only concern is the timing of her remark.

The Dumbledore Revelation and the way it was handled

6. The revelation concerning the sexuality of Dumbledore has split many fans, and not all down a pro-gay/anti-gay line. There are those who consider it to be something of a literary faux pas. That in revealing something that could have been included in the story, after the series has finished, suggests there was possibly another motive for keeping the information quiet. With all that in mind, please look at the following:

Do you believe that she should have:

Revealed Dumbledore's sexuality to the reader during the writing of the series? I personally wish she would have been a little more obvious about it so it wouldn't come as such a shock to me.

When asked about Dumbledore's 'true love', kept quiet and revealed it in a more official capacity (through her website / encyclopedia) at a later date? Well, I admire her for answering questions as they are asked. I just find it hard to believe that no one ever asked her over the past 9 or 10 years about it. JKR's fans are astute at detecting future plots and possibilities - I don't remember any suggestion or hint that anyone thought dumbledore or anyone else was gay up until she said so.

Avoided revealing anything about his sexuality altogether until a much later date? This is the one thing I disagree with her - about the timing of waiting until after it was over to address it. I know she was responding to a question from a reader, but again, I wish she had addressed it even ever so slightly in the books before now.

Or do you believe she was right in the way she revealed it?

7. Do you believe that in revealing a gay character, it will harm the Harry Potter franchise?I think it will scare off some people from ever reading it in the first place. It may also affect the final two films - people will be expecting for Dumbledore to "act gay" now. I hope the scriptwriters and actors don't put something in the films that wasn't obvious in the books. That would be a big turnoff to me.

8. Do you think JKR kept Dumbledore's sexuality private because it wasn't a key plot device or because there was a danger she wouldn't be able to get it either passed her publishers or that she was personally doubtful it would hold amongst all her fans?There were a lot of red herrings and subplots that led nowhere in the books; I think she should have put a hint or two in there so we could at least ask if this was a red herring or not? I don't know why she chose not to - we don't know what goes on behind the scenes with the editors/publishers, etc.

9. What are the merits in having a gay character in the books and what do you think the negatives of that could be?I don't think there is any merit because it was never part of the plot.

10. Had Dumbledore been revealed as gay from the beginning, do you believe the books would have done as well? Would they have been classed as children's books by many? Would you have bought them?I would have still purchased all of them if I had known a major character was gay. JKR has done such a good job with her moralistic tale of good vs evil, treating others humanely vs discrimination, that had she chosen to out a character as gay in the books, she would have handled that situation in a positive manner as well.

What's to come?

11. Do you believe that JKR will announce any more big revelations in years to come? If so, do you have any theories on what that big revelation might be?I think this will be the biggest (as soon as I learned that Dumbledore was gay - I was so shocked, I thought "what's next? Will my other favorite character, Hermoine, be revealed to be bisexual?" But seriously, I don't see how any other revelations could be more shocking (unless JKR says that Voldemort repented megaseconds before he died - that would make me VERY unhappy).

12. If a Harry Potter encyclopedia is released, what would you like to see in it ? Would you buy it?I have mentioned in another forum topic before that I would like the encyclopedia to be a detailed discussion of both the past and the future, like Tolkien did with Lord of the Rings. I want to know the complete History of Magic as well as all the details of all the characters that occurred after book 7 ended. And of course I would buy the encyclopedia - it is the last thing we have to look forward to now that the books are out (well, and the movies, too in a lesser way).

[sllagnire]

Great news and sad it wasn't in the books. I like the idea of it.