Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (SPOILERS)

[susyhomewrecker]

I can't believe the attitude some people have towards this whole thing. I've heard that one audience member at the Carnegie Hall reading/signing got up after JKR made the big "announcement" and said, "thanks for sharing about Dumbledore...now my daughter and I will have to have a big talk when we get home." Some people and media outlets are saying that she said it really disdainfully, others are saying it was a joke. Since you were there, BoroKat, what actually happened (in your opinion, anyway)?

I guess Bill O'Reilly has weighed in on the situation...it was only a matter of time. He says:

Here’s — you can talk about this on your radio show tomorrow. There are millions of Americans who feel that the media and the educational system is trying to indoctrinate their children to a certain way of life, and that includes parity for homosexuals with heterosexuals. And that’s what this Rowling thing is all about, because she sells so many books. So many kids read it, that she comes out and says, “Oh, Dumbledore is gay, and that’s great.” And this — it’s another in the indoctrination thing. That’s what the belief system is among some Americans.

Yeah, God forbid we treat all humans as equals. Screw you, Papa Bear.

[memememe76]

Gah, how many characters in that damn book died and a parent has a problem with THIS? Ugh, I hate people.

And given how many damn answers JK has given about stuff that were not written in the books (I still have no clue who this Hannah person is), I don't see why this is such a problem. It just makes so much sense now, doesn't it? Of course, if you don't want to believe, I suppose it's your right. Heck, I still refuse to believe that Hermione and Ron actually got together.

[kostgard]

Yeah, that's something that the Southpark guys have it on several times. When they were making the Southpark movie they were constantly fighting with the ratings people over things they thought were completely stupid. They rejected just about everything that had to do with sex or nudity, but didn't bat an eye at the violence. In fact, they said every time they had to make changes (take the sex stuff out) they would crank up the blood and violence before sending it back to the ratings people to see if they would start to complain about that and they never did.

But I think this is a situation where some people just aren't going to be happy. I've read that some gay rights groups are upset because they believe that the fact that DD didn't talk about his sexuality in the book gives the message that he was ashamed of it. Blerg. Don't these people see that it wasn't directly mentioned because it wasn't necessary and why don't they complain about the fact that we didn't know about any of the Hogwarts teachers' love lives (except for Snape - but that was important to the story - and kinda Hagrid with his flirtation with Madame Maxime)?

[Deleted]

I can see the point of gay rights groups that are upset. Okay, Dumbledore's sexuality wasn't germane to the plot but there is a lot of mention of wizard and muggle families and in 7 books she never once mentions a same sex couple, even casually. Neighbors, schoolmates, schoolmates' families and friends, shopkeepers, villagers, a cast of thousands and not one indication that anyone is gay. I'm not saying there needed to a be a chapter about the Hogsmeade Pride Parade. But how about a same sex couple at the school dance in GOF? Or a pair of witches holding hands at the Leaky Cauldron? Or a student saying goodbye to his two dads at Platform 9 and 3/4? A few words woven into the text would have been worth so much and she squandered the opportunity.

[Shanmac]

"thanks for sharing about Dumbledore...now my daughter and I will have to have a big talk when we get home."

Yeah, god forbid you have a talk about reality with your child and explain that there are differences between people, and that that's not a bad thing. Wouldn't want your child to have anything less than a narrow mind, would you?

I remember asking my mom once what she would think if one of us had been gay. She said, "Please -- there are so many bigger issues out there that that's the least of my worries. Who cares?" I'm so glad I had my mom and not one of these nutbags.

Plus, I thought it was implied that Dumbledore and Grindelwald were more than just friends in the story. I wasn't shocked at all and I didn't really need it spelled out for me. What is with these people?

[Deleted]

Seriously. Children die and get tortured in these books but it's more upsetting to some parents that one of the characters is gay? Dear God.
The last book went on sale here last night. Doesn't seem as if this little fact about Dumbledore had any effect on sales or popularity.

[susyhomewrecker]

shanmac said:

"thanks for sharing about Dumbledore...now my daughter and I will have to have a big talk when we get home."

Yeah, god forbid you have a talk about reality with your child and explain that there are differences between people, and that that's not a bad thing. Wouldn't want your child to have anything less than a narrow mind, would you?

I remember asking my mom once what she would think if one of us had been gay. She said, "Please -- there are so many bigger issues out there that that's the least of my worries. Who cares?" I'm so glad I had my mom and not one of these nutbags.

Plus, I thought it was implied that Dumbledore and Grindelwald were more than just friends in the story. I wasn't shocked at all and I didn't really need it spelled out for me. What is with these people?

Your mom's cool, heh.

I can't say, "Oh, I knew Dumbledore was gay all along!" but the thought crossed my mind once or twice. I never thought she'd say for sure though--of course, I also thought she'd never reveal which "inappropriate" charms Aberforth used on the goats.

[Deleted]

susyhomewrecker said:

I can't believe the attitude some people have towards this whole thing. I've heard that one audience member at the Carnegie Hall reading/signing got up after JKR made the big "announcement" and said, "thanks for sharing about Dumbledore...now my daughter and I will have to have a big talk when we get home." Some people and media outlets are saying that she said it really disdainfully, others are saying it was a joke. Since you were there, BoroKat, what actually happened (in your opinion, anyway)?

I guess Bill O'Reilly has weighed in on the situation...it was only a matter of time. He says:

Here’s — you can talk about this on your radio show tomorrow. There are millions of Americans who feel that the media and the educational system is trying to indoctrinate their children to a certain way of life, and that includes parity for homosexuals with heterosexuals. And that’s what this Rowling thing is all about, because she sells so many books. So many kids read it, that she comes out and says, “Oh, Dumbledore is gay, and that’s great.” And this — it’s another in the indoctrination thing. That’s what the belief system is among some Americans.

Yeah, God forbid we treat all humans as equals. Screw you, Papa Bear.

That was exactly what happened, Susy. The woman walked up with her little girl, but before the little girl could ask her question, the mom tossed out that statement. I looked at MrB and said, "How incredibly rude." But to her credit, JK just looked at her and shrugged her shoulders, she did not apologize at all.

The crowd did not share that sentiment it seemed. Yes, there was a gasp, but then there was a lot of cheering too.

[thecupcakekid]

I can understand someone being annoyed. You think you are going for a fun easy thing for your kid to witness and remember always and end up having to explain what homosexuality is. That would be annoying. Not that big of a deal, but annoying.

[kostgard]

I can understand having a sort of "Oh, boy. Wasn't ready for this" reaction, realizing you are going to have a conversation you weren't quite prepared for, but that's life when you have kids. They often hear things before you are ready for them to hear it and you have to deal with it. Plus it seems if your kid can handle the death and destruction in the books, your kid can handle the "sometimes boys like boys" conversation.

At the end of the day I would guess the kid would be a bit more upset over her mom being snippy with the lady who wrote the books she loves so much and not getting a chance to talk to Rowling herself than she would about anything else that evening.