You’ve probably heard the news by now. On Friday night, J.K. Rowling told a packed Carnegie Hall audience that Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, is (was?) gay. More specifically, in response to the question of whether Dumbledore had ever found true love, Rowling responded that he was gay and that he had a thing for onetime friend and then mortal enemy Gellert Grindewald. (You can read a full transcript of the question and answer session here.)
I had hoped to be at this event, but my sweepstakes entry was not one of the 1,000 selected. Like the other 49,000 rejects, I had to read about the big revelation the next day. From both a character and big-picture perspective, this posthumous outing is significant. Not only did Rowling disclose that the most influential and talented wizard in the modern magical Harry Potter world was gay, but she affirmed something that was not at all clear in the books — that GLBT folks (or at least “G” wizards) exist in that world.
I find it encouraging that the audience reacted with applause (and some shock). And Rowling’s response to that was, “If I’d known it would make you so happy, I’d have announced it years ago.” That would have been nice. Of course, some gay fans are happy about the revelation, and others see it as either downright negative or too little too late. And AfterElton.com readers, of course, have their range of reactions. My favorite comment (which I read on another site) was, “Oh good, now all the fictional, closeted gay wizards of the world have a role model.”
At the event, Rowling also had the presence of mind to note, “Oh, my god, the fan fiction now, eh?”
“The fan fiction” is right. The Harry Potter fan fiction and shipper sites are prolific, to say the least. [Note: Click at your own risk — some of the stories are pretty graphic.] There are more than 300,000 Harry Potter stories on fanfiction.net. (For comparison, Buffy has approximately 31,000 stories, Xena has approximately 1,500 stories and The Flying Nun has eight.) Much of the fantasizing has focused on Harry/Hermione vs. Harry/Ginny pairings. But lots of writers want to see some same-sex action. Remus/Sirius is a favorite, as is Harry/Draco. And there was at least one lesbian reader who implored Rowling to include a gay or lesbian character in book 7, via a very earnest (and largely unsigned) web petition.
But talking about the boys gets old. Let’s get to the real question: Who are the lesbians?
Again, Rowling has acknowledged that same-sex attraction exists in the world she created, so there must be some dykes out there. Some of the fan fiction writers have explored this realm, and Ginny Weasley seems to be a favorite subject of speculation.
I don’t really buy this. She fell for Harry the moment she laid her eyes upon his scar. (I suppose she could have been a precocious LUG while she was waiting for Harry, but I’m far from convinced.) And Hermione, of course, would have been great in her brainy, political, cat-loving way, but she’s Rowling’s (loose) alter-ego and was fated for Ron early on.
The unmarried adults — the teachers in particular — are generally blank slates, so I find it easier to attribute lesbian archetypal-ness to them.
Tonks had so much early potential. Remember how she was introduced?
“She looked the youngest there; she had a pale heart-shaped face, dark twinkling eyes, and short spiky hair that was a violent shade of violet.”
Violet hair!
Unfortunately, this early promise was frittered away when she and Lupin became an item. Alas. (But anyone who hooks up with a werewolf has to fall somewhere on the spectrum of queer!)
Then there’s Madame Hooch, the Quidditch ref and flying instructor (i.e., gym teacher). I think she’s a pretty safe bet. And Professor Trelawney could have the flaky, New Age, hippie-lesbian thing going on. (But that might just be me wanting Emma Thompson to be a lesbian.)
Ultimately, though, if I had to pick just one, I’d have to go with Professor Minerva McGonagall.
She’s strong and confident; there’s never been a mention of Mr. McGonagall; and her animagus form is that of a cat. With markings for her glasses. (Some might think it a bit much to have the top Hogwarts witch and wizard be gay, but if you’ve ever worked in a dorm, you know that residential life staffs are full of us.)
That’s my analysis. Which witches do you think were, could be, or should have been lesbians?
