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ella_mennoI’m a little concerned about those select few persons who call themselves "shocked" that Dumbledore was gay all along. This brings me great concern for the literacy and ability to read for content of the general public. Let's go through some of the text:
JKR introduces us to the character by telling us that "nothing like [him] had ever been seen on Privet Drive." Privet Drive, as we all know, is a symbol of conventional (i.e. heterosexual) Muggle suburbia - a place to which we’re explicitly told that Albus Dumbledore is foreign. It’s apparent that his magical ability is one of the reasons he is so alien to this landscape; however, it isn’t too much of a stretch to see that there may well be other reasons.
The next sentence tells us that the Headmaster's hair and beard are both exceptionally long. As found on gay.com: “In the late ‘60’s and ‘70’s1, when modern gay radicalism was born, long hair spoke of nonconformism, sensuality, and a challenge to rigid gender norms.” Aha! Another clue for those careful students of the text.
Up next, we discover what the Professor wore on his outing – er, excuse me – his excursion to Privet Drive. Certainly robes and cloaks are standard attire in the wizarding world, so there are no clues to the wearer’s sexual orientation there. However – of all the many colors, what hue does our Headmaster choose? That’s right: purple – just like the famous gay icon Tinky Winky. Not only is Dumbledore’s cloak purple, but it “sweeps the ground.” An interesting word choice, is it not? Exchange the “eeps” for “ishes,” and our esteemed Professor fairly prances atop the pavement.2
And what is on those prancing feet? “High-heeled, buckled boots.” Honestly, at this point, I have to wonder who among JKR’s readers was still under the impression that Dumbles was straight.
The paragraph ends by telling us that Dumbledore’s nose appeared to have been “broken at least twice.” We see other injuries in the text, most of which are mended in a trice by Madam Pomfrey or other medi-magical personnel. Why would these injuries of Dumbledore’s still be noticeable? Could they, perhaps, be the remnants of some homophobic Dark Wizard’s Hate Curse?
Mind you, all this information comes from only one paragraph early on in the first book. I’m sure that there are many other clues scattered throughout all seven books, readily available for anyone with a modicum of talent at reading comprehension.
Notes
1. Though the quoted article almost certainly refers to the sixties and seventies which occurred in the 1900's, one would not be remiss in wondering how tolerant the 1860's and 70's were, given that Dumbledore's canonical age indicates he was running around Europe in that time period.
2. For more semi-canonical insights on "swishing," please see Ralph Fiennes' performance as Voldemort in 2005's "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire."
Nothing like this man had ever been seen on Privet Drive. He was tall, thin, and very old, judging by the silver of his hair and beard, which were both long enough to tuck into his belt. He was wearing long robes, a purple cloak that swept the ground, and high-heeled, buckled boots. His blue eyes were light, bright, and sparkling behind half-moon spectacles and his nose was very long and crooked, as though it had been broken at least twice. This man's name was Albus Dumbledore.
JKR introduces us to the character by telling us that "nothing like [him] had ever been seen on Privet Drive." Privet Drive, as we all know, is a symbol of conventional (i.e. heterosexual) Muggle suburbia - a place to which we’re explicitly told that Albus Dumbledore is foreign. It’s apparent that his magical ability is one of the reasons he is so alien to this landscape; however, it isn’t too much of a stretch to see that there may well be other reasons.
The next sentence tells us that the Headmaster's hair and beard are both exceptionally long. As found on gay.com: “In the late ‘60’s and ‘70’s1, when modern gay radicalism was born, long hair spoke of nonconformism, sensuality, and a challenge to rigid gender norms.” Aha! Another clue for those careful students of the text.
Up next, we discover what the Professor wore on his outing – er, excuse me – his excursion to Privet Drive. Certainly robes and cloaks are standard attire in the wizarding world, so there are no clues to the wearer’s sexual orientation there. However – of all the many colors, what hue does our Headmaster choose? That’s right: purple – just like the famous gay icon Tinky Winky. Not only is Dumbledore’s cloak purple, but it “sweeps the ground.” An interesting word choice, is it not? Exchange the “eeps” for “ishes,” and our esteemed Professor fairly prances atop the pavement.2
And what is on those prancing feet? “High-heeled, buckled boots.” Honestly, at this point, I have to wonder who among JKR’s readers was still under the impression that Dumbles was straight.
The paragraph ends by telling us that Dumbledore’s nose appeared to have been “broken at least twice.” We see other injuries in the text, most of which are mended in a trice by Madam Pomfrey or other medi-magical personnel. Why would these injuries of Dumbledore’s still be noticeable? Could they, perhaps, be the remnants of some homophobic Dark Wizard’s Hate Curse?
Mind you, all this information comes from only one paragraph early on in the first book. I’m sure that there are many other clues scattered throughout all seven books, readily available for anyone with a modicum of talent at reading comprehension.
Notes
1. Though the quoted article almost certainly refers to the sixties and seventies which occurred in the 1900's, one would not be remiss in wondering how tolerant the 1860's and 70's were, given that Dumbledore's canonical age indicates he was running around Europe in that time period.
2. For more semi-canonical insights on "swishing," please see Ralph Fiennes' performance as Voldemort in 2005's "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire."
