Since Dumbledore is such a strong, powerful character, I bet a lot of children who read the book who are gay will feel empowered by the news. Off hand, I can't think of any other strong gay role models in children's books. ... Not counting any of the Dr. Seuss characters.
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Fubeca
Cage Fighter
My thoughts exactly so why go there?!!!!????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!???????????????????????!?!?!?!?!?!
My thoughts exactly so why go there?!!!!????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!???????????????????????!?!?!?!?!?!
Because gay children need role models, too.
Fubeca
Cage Fighter
galactiboy
OT Preferist
Sorry, I think you are wrong there. Sexual orientation is expressed at pretty early ages... although many at young ages are scared and confused which can lead to problems later in life. And if you don't think sex and adulthood are being pushed on children at younger and younger ages you've must be lucky enough to have never seen Brats toys 
Also, when you look at the age Harry Potter books are more targeted too you do have a lot of adolescents and pre-teen readers.
Research has shown that having positive gay/lesbian/bisexual role models benefits children who may later in life be in same sex relationships by showing them that it is okay. It also has a benefit for heterosexual children in providing them with exposure which can help reduce negative stereotypes and prejudice.
Also, when you look at the age Harry Potter books are more targeted too you do have a lot of adolescents and pre-teen readers.Research has shown that having positive gay/lesbian/bisexual role models benefits children who may later in life be in same sex relationships by showing them that it is okay. It also has a benefit for heterosexual children in providing them with exposure which can help reduce negative stereotypes and prejudice.
That's one of the dumbest things I've ever read. Kids have crushes on other kids all the time. They don't need sexuality pushed on them for them to become aware of the opposite -- or in gay children's cases, appropriate -- sex. So why can't gay children have role models that are strong, powerful and successful?
Fubeca
Cage Fighter
Matter of fact I have one. And no, she is not gay. (God I wish she were, though! My greatest fear isn't her coming home saying, meet my special friend Jennifer. It's her saying, I don't know who the father is, but I'm knocked up.)
Ultimate Weapon
Super Freak
I hate to sound condescending or like a jerk or something, but are some people so jaded that they think the only reason Rowling said this was to cash in, or stir controversy, sell more books, or whatever? Why does there always have to be an agenda to what people say? Can't someone simply make a statement about their own work, their own art, without there being a thousand "conspiracies" surrounding it?
Have we really come only so far as a culture that our first instinct is to make jokes about gays, fear for childrens' literature and hypothesize about ulterior motives?
I'm an easy-going totally laid back who tries to respect what people say because, hey, it's all about free speech and speaking your mind. I know for the most part everything is just in good fun. But sometimes, you examine what people say and it's like, ****, is this really what people think? Is this the sum total of our tolerance and understanding as a society? Or am I just reading too much into what people are saying, missing the subtle nuances of conversation on a forums board which are taken only at face value?
Or am I just up too late thinking too seriously about a message board?
Have we really come only so far as a culture that our first instinct is to make jokes about gays, fear for childrens' literature and hypothesize about ulterior motives?
I'm an easy-going totally laid back who tries to respect what people say because, hey, it's all about free speech and speaking your mind. I know for the most part everything is just in good fun. But sometimes, you examine what people say and it's like, ****, is this really what people think? Is this the sum total of our tolerance and understanding as a society? Or am I just reading too much into what people are saying, missing the subtle nuances of conversation on a forums board which are taken only at face value?
Or am I just up too late thinking too seriously about a message board?
JSA
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I hate to sound condescending or like a jerk or something, but are some people so jaded that they think the only reason Rowling said this was to cash in, or stir controversy, sell more books, or whatever? Why does there always have to be an agenda to what people say? Can't someone simply make a statement about their own work, their own art, without there being a thousand "conspiracies" surrounding it?
Have we really come only so far as a culture that our first instinct is to make jokes about gays, fear for childrens' literature and hypothesize about ulterior motives?
I'm an easy-going totally laid back who tries to respect what people say because, hey, it's all about free speech and speaking your mind. I know for the most part everything is just in good fun. But sometimes, you examine what people say and it's like, ****, is this really what people think? Is this the sum total of our tolerance and understanding as a society? Or am I just reading too much into what people are saying, missing the subtle nuances of conversation on a forums board which are taken only at face value?
Or am I just up too late thinking too seriously about a message board?
My issue is her timing of the revalation. Why now - after all the books are done?
If she'd "really" wanted to give kids/adolescents a strong gay rolemodel, then
why not reveal that fact earlier in the series? Answer: Because it would have
potentially (likely) cost her several hundred million of dollars. That's what bugs me.
JS
KitFisto
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Comments like this have always bothered me. I have never agreed with people who say they "Knew they were gay at 6 years old". BS! I didn't "know I was straight" at 6. At that age kids are not thinking about sexuality or what orentation they are. Perhaps you meant older "children" and if so that's fine, but I have always disagreed with the "I have ALWAYS known" stuff.
KitFisto
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Wow. Hope I haven't struck a nerve, KitFisto.
I didn't know I was straight when I was 6 either. I think I was 10 before my first crush on a girl. But I've met gay men who tell me they they knew when they were 6 (and others who didn't) and I've met straight men who told me they knew they were straight when they were 6. I never felt the need to argue the point with either of them. I always figured, whether they were straight or gay, that they would know better about their own childhood.
What makes you so fixated on the age of 6? Kids (even as early as six) do get crushes on other children. You've never seen a little boy hold a little girl's hand? Or get all flushed or embarassed or any other clues that they have feelings that aren't completely asexual? And the readers of Harry Potter are not just 6 years old. Why some kids even read Harry Potter well into the ripe old age of 10.
Hey, she can be anything, so long as she's not a teenager and pregnant!
Um, that remark like the one in question were actually more ironic than genuine. Though there are times I worry about the other boys and then I wish she was who she was and that who she was happened to be gay... (More irony again.)
I didn't know I was straight when I was 6 either. I think I was 10 before my first crush on a girl. But I've met gay men who tell me they they knew when they were 6 (and others who didn't) and I've met straight men who told me they knew they were straight when they were 6. I never felt the need to argue the point with either of them. I always figured, whether they were straight or gay, that they would know better about their own childhood.
What makes you so fixated on the age of 6? Kids (even as early as six) do get crushes on other children. You've never seen a little boy hold a little girl's hand? Or get all flushed or embarassed or any other clues that they have feelings that aren't completely asexual? And the readers of Harry Potter are not just 6 years old. Why some kids even read Harry Potter well into the ripe old age of 10.
Hey, she can be anything, so long as she's not a teenager and pregnant!
Um, that remark like the one in question were actually more ironic than genuine. Though there are times I worry about the other boys and then I wish she was who she was and that who she was happened to be gay... (More irony again.)
KitFisto
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Wow. Hope I haven't struck a nerve, KitFisto.
I didn't know I was straight when I was 6 either. I think I was 10 before my first crush on a girl. But I've met gay men who tell me they they knew when they were 6 (and others who didn't) and I've met straight men who told me they knew they were straight when they were 6. I never felt the need to argue the point with either of them. I always figured, whether they were straight or gay, that they would know better about their own childhood.
What makes you focus so much on the age of 6? Kids (even as early as six) do get crushes on other children. You've never seen a little boy hold a little girl's hand? Or get all flushed or embarassed or any other clues that they have feelings that aren't completely asexual? And the readers of Harry Potter are not just 6 years old. Why some kids even read Harry Potter well into the ripe old age of 10.
Hey, she can be anything, so long as she's not a teenager and pregnant!
No, no nerve struck at all. I have just had many debates over this subject in that past. I am not stuck on the age of 6 either. If it sounds better I'll say 4-7. I did say maybe you meant older children as well. I'll never agree with someone who says they knew at 4-7 that they were gay or straight. Kids that age get emabrrassed over anything much less about being teased about having a g/f or b/f. I am sorry, I just don't buy that small children that age know in their hearts that they are homosexual or heterosexual. I have seen interviews were some gays claim to have known since they were 2 years old. Really? I don't remember **** from when I was two much less what sexual orentation I am. I just don't believe it.
As for your daughter, I accept that you were being more sarcastic than serious. At first I wasn't so sure.
Anzik
Super Freak
If sexuality were a major point in the books I would agree with you but they don't even start their 'crushes' until book 3. The simple fact of the matter is that homosexuals make up a very small percentage of the population so in a book series with a small core cast with the overtones of sexuality being very minor I wouldn't expect it to be a big deal.
Also, sexuality is far too complex a subject to be as black and white as you're born with it or not. My friend Jennifer for example used to run her barbies over with Tonka trucks. My 4 yr old nephew likes to dress like a princess, but he has an older sister and likes to copy, so maybe he'll be gay, maybe he's a copycat, I love him either way. Sometimes kids likely have a predisposition but more frequently there are more environmental issues that help shape tendencies.
I think its more beneficial to think of Dumbledore as a strong character with good values rather than emphasizing that he is specifically a gay character with strong qualities. Society is fractured enough because of all the multicultural attitudes like to focus on differences rather than common ground. The popular culture focuses more on feeling good than doing good.
Also, sexuality is far too complex a subject to be as black and white as you're born with it or not. My friend Jennifer for example used to run her barbies over with Tonka trucks. My 4 yr old nephew likes to dress like a princess, but he has an older sister and likes to copy, so maybe he'll be gay, maybe he's a copycat, I love him either way. Sometimes kids likely have a predisposition but more frequently there are more environmental issues that help shape tendencies.
I think its more beneficial to think of Dumbledore as a strong character with good values rather than emphasizing that he is specifically a gay character with strong qualities. Society is fractured enough because of all the multicultural attitudes like to focus on differences rather than common ground. The popular culture focuses more on feeling good than doing good.
Darth Caedus
Formerly Congerking
the obvious "crushes" in the book is a natural part of growing up. sure they don't act on it, but nobody does that at age 12 (some do, I wish I was one of them :chew:chew). I believe in science and genetically speaking, nobody's born "gay" or "straight", it's how you are brought up and your environment that causes your LEARNED behavior, which includes sexuality.
ANYWAY, I agree with JS on that if she revealed dumbledore's sexuality earlier, it would have cost her money. I don't know who from, the religious groups? they already hated her for spawning "evil magic" on kids, can't think of anybody else who would hate her for a gay character. I personally don't care if dumbledore was straight/gay/or liked goats like his brother :chew:chew, he was and will always be a great literary character to me nontheless.
ANYWAY, I agree with JS on that if she revealed dumbledore's sexuality earlier, it would have cost her money. I don't know who from, the religious groups? they already hated her for spawning "evil magic" on kids, can't think of anybody else who would hate her for a gay character. I personally don't care if dumbledore was straight/gay/or liked goats like his brother :chew:chew, he was and will always be a great literary character to me nontheless.
tomandshell
Blue Flame of the West/Mod
I suppose that she runs the risk of offending the religious right by mentioning it, while I would think that others not opposed to the subject would still be offended by the tokenism/sensationalism of pointing this out after the fact when the books are finished and Dumbledore's sexual orientation was obviously not relevant or important enough to be referenced in the official canon. Why should it matter now? Are you going to come out and say that he is dyslexic if it didn't come up in the course of the story?
galactiboy
OT Preferist
Again, I think people are generalizing too much about this. I work with children, as a counselor, and while its not really common children do have questions and concerns about who they are attracted to at very young ages. There is research to substantiate this. Just because you did not think about your sexuality at a young age does not mean others do not. And its actually much more common for gay/lesbian/bisexual individuals because the recognize their feelings are different at an early age and have make sense of it.
There is an blissful obliviousness about sexual identity development for heterosexuals, who are seen as the norm.
Memnoch
Lt. Vulture
I think in this entire debate we are forgetting that this was all started by a kids question "Did Dumbledore ever find true love?" and she gave an honest answer according to the back story she had written for the character. Anyone that has really followed the development of the books knows that JKR actually has boxes upon boxes of back ground and unused material that to her is still cannon, enough to fill an encyclopedia (which to me cannot be written and sold soon enough). This wasn't a drawn out thought process to create controversy. It wasn't mentioned before becuase it wasn't important to HARRY'S story. A child asked a question about who I would assume was a favorite character and then all hell breaks loose.
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