Dumbledore is a Magician Gay

Well, Dumbledore is out of the closet and the world is shocked. Or is it? Devra and I are proud to push aside the clothes, the skeletons and the mothballs to tell you exactly how our families took the news.

I will admit, aside from a few pages of "family read-a-loud" time, I haven't read any of the books. I am strictly a movie watching Potter fan. When I saw the headline, I blew it off as nothing. I saw no purpose to the information and I didn't even bother to read the article. It didn't matter to me. I know lots of gay people and I've never known any of their abilities (magical or otherwise) to be effected by their sexual orientation. I decided it was either a publicity stunt or Rowling didn't find it to be earth shattering. She was just stating what she had known all along. I mean, come on, why should we find it shocking to discover gay characters in literature - fictional or not.

My 15 year old daughter found the news... silly, ridiculous and, quite frankly, non-newsworthy. As a child who re-read the entire set every time a new book was released, she has a vast knowledge of Harry, Dumbledore and all the other characters involved in the series. Was she devistated by such a fact being revealed after all this time. No. Her only devistation was in not discovering it herself. So, of course, she is now determined to re-read the entire series in search of clues! She explained to me that the movies don't follow each book all that closely anyway, so what difference would it make if they portrayed the gay thing or not. It doesn't change the story.

My husband - just as avid a fan but with an incredible memory and, therefore, no need to re-read with each new release - laughed out loud as he read the headline in our local paper. He couldn't figure out why Rowling would find it necessary to even mention such a thing.

My 12 year old daughter could care less. It has nothing to do with the clothes she will be wearing this week or the social events she has planned for this weekend so why should she waste her time on it.

My 6 year old son - Honestly, we haven't mentioned it to him. He isn't at an age to comprehend the concept so why bother.

Overall, I can say the news has not changed the way we feel about the series. The books are still great fun to read (so I've been told), the movies are still full of entertainment, magic, mystery and action, and the idea of a magical world still intrigues all of us far more than the school master's lack of female companionship. Oh no, I've never noticed Professor McGonagall with a man. Do you suppose she could be a lesbian?

Now, be sure to come back and read Devra's post!