OMG

[ishtar79]

Regarding JKR outing Dumbledore…

Honestly, I did a double take and wondered if I was still dreaming when I read that.

Yes, I still believe that Important Character Information should be included in the books as opposed to divulged in interviews. Yes, I admit my second reaction (after picking my jaw off the floor) was “…but like the manipulative bit, we sort of knew that already’. Yes, an even better reaction to a major gay character in a children’s book would be a gay character in a happy or at least requited’ relationship in a children’s book. *In the actual text*, even.

But I’m leaving aside all those quibbles because even if a portion of the millions of children who read this book worldwide hear of this, if it makes it makes them think about the fact that one of their favourite figures in the book is a gay man, if this makes it more ok to be gay or more accepting of gay people….well. This is HUGE.

And man oh man, the HP book-burning Christian Right is gonna be PISSED.

Comments

[aewyn7.livejournal.com]

That’s a good point about the kids reading this interview. I had the same “but why isn’t this in the books?” reaction, but if there’s someone who becomes more accepting of gay people because a character they like is revealed to be gay that’s of course great.

[ishtar79.livejournal.com]

Both points are valid imo. The Media Studies graduate and the slasher in me are currently struggling in my head-but still, so far the squee seems to be winning.

[artystone.livejournal.com]

It isn't in the books because I really, honestly don't believe she "always thought of DD as gay." I don't think she thought of DD as anything, it just came off a a convenient way to get an ovation out of some of the battier corners of fandom. Her original audience, the kids who have followed the books since they started, don't give a crap. Really. In fact, just to prove that point, when my son, who has followed the books one by one since he was about 7, gets home, I'm going to tell him what Jo just said.

I'll report back, but I know his reaction will be, "So? That's gay."

"gay" here being the teenage version of the term meaning, "why the fuck should I care?"