2008 Woodie Awards
Author outs Hogwarts headmaster
Members of Webster University student groups respond to Rowling's revelation
Issue date: 11/1/07 Section: Lifestyle
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Famed children's author J.K. Rowling held a press conference Oct. 19 at which she revealed that Albus Dumbledore, one of the most beloved characters from her Harry Potter series, is gay. The announcement has caused groups that already called for the banning of the Harry Potter series to renew their demands that the book be removed from libraries and bookstores. But Harry Potter fans and members of the gay community are embracing the revelation of
Dumbledore's sexuality.
"I think that when I finally get around to re-reading the seventh book, it will shed some new light on the subject," Sara Simpson, the Head Girl of Webster University's Potterheads Anonymous group, said. "Looking at it like that, I think I'll get a new perspective
on things."
In fact, Harry Potter fans have speculated about Dumbledore's sexuality even before Rowling outed him.
"I've seen a bunch of fan fiction and other material to the effect that Dumbledore was actually gay, but I never actually got that from the first reading," Simpson said. "I suppose that it does help to clarify some of the questions that I had about Dumbledore's relationship with his arch-rival, Grindelwald. I'm not shocked or upset or anything. I just think that's another aspect to a character that I know and love, and I just accept it
as such."
Lauren Van Der Dys, a sophomore international relations major and co-vice president of the WU LGBTQ Alliance, said she was amazed by
the news.
"I'm a huge Harry Potter fan, and when I heard that Dumbledore was gay, my first reaction to the news was to laugh," Van Der Dys said. "I thought it was totally unexpected for a mainstream author to have one of the major characters in a bestselling children's series come out. I think it was a great thing
to do."
Van Der Dys said with all of the controversy Rowling's books have stirred up, she thought that it was fascinating that Rowling would be willing to invite
more criticism.
"She was willing to nonetheless put it out there," Van Der Dys said. "I think that it shows a more mainstream acceptance in the world."
The president of Potterheads Anonymous, Angela Moritz, has her own views on Dumbledore's coming out.
"It's something that fits within the story," Moritz said. "It seems to make things a lot more tragic since it turns Dumbledore's battle with Grindelwald from a fight between best friends to a battle between people who used to love one another. It's just a lot more sad."
Moritz and Simpson are both consummate Harry Potter fans. Moritz read the first book when it was published, and Simpson began reading the series just after the release of the first Harry Potter film. Along with Van Der Dys, they said Dumbledore's homosexuality has not turned them off to the Harry Potter series, and they will continue to read the books and see the films in the future.
Dumbledore's sexuality.
"I think that when I finally get around to re-reading the seventh book, it will shed some new light on the subject," Sara Simpson, the Head Girl of Webster University's Potterheads Anonymous group, said. "Looking at it like that, I think I'll get a new perspective
on things."
In fact, Harry Potter fans have speculated about Dumbledore's sexuality even before Rowling outed him.
"I've seen a bunch of fan fiction and other material to the effect that Dumbledore was actually gay, but I never actually got that from the first reading," Simpson said. "I suppose that it does help to clarify some of the questions that I had about Dumbledore's relationship with his arch-rival, Grindelwald. I'm not shocked or upset or anything. I just think that's another aspect to a character that I know and love, and I just accept it
as such."
Lauren Van Der Dys, a sophomore international relations major and co-vice president of the WU LGBTQ Alliance, said she was amazed by
the news.
"I'm a huge Harry Potter fan, and when I heard that Dumbledore was gay, my first reaction to the news was to laugh," Van Der Dys said. "I thought it was totally unexpected for a mainstream author to have one of the major characters in a bestselling children's series come out. I think it was a great thing
to do."
Van Der Dys said with all of the controversy Rowling's books have stirred up, she thought that it was fascinating that Rowling would be willing to invite
more criticism.
"She was willing to nonetheless put it out there," Van Der Dys said. "I think that it shows a more mainstream acceptance in the world."
The president of Potterheads Anonymous, Angela Moritz, has her own views on Dumbledore's coming out.
"It's something that fits within the story," Moritz said. "It seems to make things a lot more tragic since it turns Dumbledore's battle with Grindelwald from a fight between best friends to a battle between people who used to love one another. It's just a lot more sad."
Moritz and Simpson are both consummate Harry Potter fans. Moritz read the first book when it was published, and Simpson began reading the series just after the release of the first Harry Potter film. Along with Van Der Dys, they said Dumbledore's homosexuality has not turned them off to the Harry Potter series, and they will continue to read the books and see the films in the future.
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