Sad & Worried Thoughts on JKR & a Gay Dumbledore....

[avus]

JKR's decision to reveal that Dumbledore is gay has been rightly acclaimed as courageous. For a children's writer to even think, without revealing, that a major story character is gay reveals an important step in tolerance. Shortly after outing Albus, JKR went on to emphasize that Harry, in the magical world, had to face all the problems of the

Comments

[magicofisis]

Avus, I don't disagree with you, but I continue to think that it's a bit unfair to put that task on JKR. If I may use a baseball analogy (you'll be cheering for the Rockies, no doubt), it's a bit like asking her to hit a homerun in her first major league at bat. And in fact, what I think she did was simply to put the ball in play. As is evidenced by the widespread opinions in the HP fandom on this topic, I think she would only have served to alienate the [parents of] the very people who most need to learn tolerance. JKR has a lot of literature left in her, and because of the enormous following of her Harry Potter series, she will undoubtedly be more widely read than most authors writing today. Perhaps Harry Potter isn't the appropriate vehicle for making a social commentary, but she knows (because of the fact that her audience applauded when she said it) that there is a certain portion of her audience that is tolerant, and would appreciate a story from her that offered a more explicit version of tolerance. Maybe it won't be her next book, or even the one after that, but I think that after opening the door this far, she will go through it.

Those of us who long to see more toleration in our world are impatient for those with the power to use it. But I can honestly say that if I'm Jo Rowling and my kids are still little, I'm doing exactly what she did.

But think what would happen if everyone who had the power to change minds used it just a little bit as JKR did - real change would occur, I know it. Maybe she'll inspire others to speak up. We can only pray it works.

[avus]

Ah, dear magicofisis, I can see that, as usual, I've put it poorly. I'll say again how I responded to mrsquizzical.

...I continue to think that it's a bit unfair to put that task on JKR. If I may use a baseball analogy (you'll be cheering for the Rockies, no doubt), it's a bit like asking her to hit a homerun in her first major league at bat. And in fact, what I think she did was simply to put the ball in play. As is evidenced by the widespread opinions in the HP fandom on this topic, I think she would only have served to alienate the [parents of] the very people who most need to learn tolerance.

Absolutely! I agree. You could paste it on the top of my essay, here, and I'd be glad to include it, even to sign it. Yes, yes, yes.

Now let me, as I did with mrsquizzical, put a little disagreement in here. But I stress, it's only a little disagreement:

Perhaps Harry Potter isn't the appropriate vehicle for making a social commentary, but she knows (because of the fact that her audience applauded when she said it) that there is a certain portion of her audience that is tolerant, and would appreciate a story from her that offered a more explicit version of tolerance.

To write and to not write is always social commentary. How can there be a story without a social? What kind of story would that be. Stories, reading and writing are always already social, though they certainly shouldn't be mainly or reduced to social commentory, and especially not a type of social commentary. How boring would that be.

I'm not criticizing her for what she did. That, as you say very well and clearly, is a HUGE step forward. Of course, yes, and how wonderful and courageous of her!

I'm merely sad & worry about what she didn't-write, also as a deliberate and, as you point out correctly and necessarily, an understandable action. And can you see how that doesn't take away the sadness & worry. That's my sadness & worry, and not just for gay.

So we all join together with two very beautiful things you said, which is more important than anything I've said here, except for one thing, which is equally important:

Maybe it won't be her next book, or even the one after that, but I think that after opening the door this far, she will go through it.

But think what would happen if everyone who had the power to change minds used it just a little bit as JKR did - real change would occur, I know it. Maybe she'll inspire others to speak up. We can only pray it works.

Now my one thing, which isn't "my" one thing at all, but is still important: the vital connection, joining of tolerance & love.

All good things,

avus

[avus]

Oh, one more thing. You might be interested, too, in the bit I added in posting on harry_and_ron at the end -- the stuff to Harry/Ron slashers. Probably I didn't say it quite right, there, either. But I'm trying, and raising issues. Not so much as a gadfly, though I like doing that sometimes. But as trying to think further. Which is my duty, and it's a shame that so often I combine that with being confusing & boring.

*sigh*