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

[avus]

Ah, I do agree with all you've said. Of course, that! (As I hope I'm clear here.)

And yet... hmmm... In a way, I don't quite agree with you. But I don't exactly disagree either. Let me try to say what I mean, but if I mess it up, come back.

Two points. The first is a bit of an accuracy thing.

"...she was writing from her standpoint. she doesn't live on that particular aspect of society. she doesn't live where it is the key issue."

Ah, but she does. I can't quite agree, here, though it's enormously clear that, in UK, gays are accorded much more respect and more rights than here in most of the US. But she's not just writing, she's writing for. In particular, she's not just writing for the UK and more progressive parts or peoples of the world. She's also writing for the US, very much so.

Does that part make sense. So here, while I'm not exactly disagreeing, because in one way, of course you're right -- it's blood purity -- in another way, well, it's maybe a "not quite"?

And I couldn't agree with you more on your main points:

"i am looking forward to the day when a mainstream, highly successful book just happens to have gay characters. not as 'the focus' but just included because it's just the way things are.

before that we have to have the books that make it a big deal and are ground breaking and have the furor and controvesy about that etc.

and before that we have a book where someone says about one of the main characters 'oh. he's gay'.

i think she's done that, and i love her for it.

I love her for that, too. And that's so important, that anything I have to add does fade to the background.

But I wanted to add that anyway. There's this sad & worried & wanting more -- not just gay tolerance, but TOLERANCE as a species of love.

And I guess I wanted to say that the most: that it's not just "tolerating something you don't like much". It really does need to move to a Love-Tolerance. That I really wanted to say.

I hope that makes some sense?

You might enjoy what I've posted on harry_and_ron, which pokes a bit as us Harry/Ron'ers. You don't need to read the first part, as it's just a repetition of what I've written here. I'd be curious what you think of that.

As always, dear mrsquizzical, *hugs* & gratitude in return.

avus

[mrsquizzical]

oh i will go and look at harry_ron directly!

Ah, but she does. I can't quite agree, here, though it's enormously clear that, in UK, gays are accorded much more respect and more rights than here in most of the US. But she's not just writing, she's writing for. In particular, she's not just writing for the UK and more progressive parts or peoples of the world. She's also writing for the US, very much so.

i still will disagree slightly with you here....

in her daily life i don't think that this will come up much.

now - i know that activists will be angry and upset over that. think it SHOULD and we need to make it more high profile and make people have to deal with it more etc. and yes i agree. but i still make the point that combatting homophobia will not be something that presents itself to her as much as to others.

i have friends who never think of it except when something is on the telly. i am aware and make a point of addressing things where i think there is an inherent inequality or bias. but to be honest i was confronted way more with society's prejudice against breastfeeding mothers than this. because that is MY life.

yes. she has an audience. and she writes FOR. and yes i think she has a responsibility to be MORE. aware. vocal. etc but yeah.

also - i really have never liked the word 'tolerance' anyway. even 'acceptance' sounds sort of 'begrudging'. i like inclusive. and i like embracing.

thanks for your pov. i will read harry_ron shortly!

[avus]

Yes, of course we can agree to disagree, slightly or majorly. And we can do that in embracing -- I like that much better than tolerance, too! (Though I like the love part as well.)

And again, I'm not angry in any sense, or upset with JKR -- how dumb would that be? She's just done a beautiful thing, and taken a step forward. No step forward should ever be put down, even if, of course, we don't want to stop there. (See what happens if you're walking and all of a sudden stop, right?)

And thank goodness you have your important "audience", and please keep that. Mine is, mostly, abused & neglected children. And I'd never give up that. Though tolerance & love, even embracing, there, is tricker in some ways. Indeed, in some ways, much, much trickier, and I'll spend the rest of my professional career working that out.

[mrsquizzical]

i have a captive audience of 3! lol.

i have 'heard' you though, and take the thought to heart - being aware of the backstory of intolerance and of how far there is to go - when reading/writing and discussing this stuff.

do i have that right? because yes. *nods*

(and your audience is so lucky to have someone as thoughtful and aware as you are there with them. *hugs*)

[avus]

As always, of course you have it all right.

I'm not sure how lucky, or how much audience I have. I suspect, at least as far as my harry_and_ron post, it's... shall we charitably say, atypical? Or maybe a bit OT/eccentric -- that sounds better, less clinical.

*hugs in return*