[HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: One reporter reacts to JKR's revelations

[Kathryn Lambert]

delwynmarch <delwynmarch at yahoo.com> wrote:          Katie wrote:
> Well, I did [think that homosexuality is less 
> controversial than witchcraft]. Until recently. 

Del replies:
<<<snip>>>I think 
you'd be surprised to realise just how many people 
around you, in your real life, only pretend to go 
along with your opinions.
   
  ***Katie: No, I think you might be surprised by how in the minority you are - at least where I live. I know you are not in the States, but the city I live in is very gay - we have entire neighborhoods that are dominated by gay couples, gay clubs, and restaurants and bars owned by gay people. It's also one of the most socially and politically liberal cities in the whole country. We haven't voted for a Republican mayor in 40 years, and my state has never gone "red" in a presidential election, meaning  our electoral votes always go to the Democrat. 
   
  Most of my friends are even more socially liberal than I am. In fact, I am often the one arguing for more traditional stuff in our political discussions. I am certainly the only practicing Catholic in my group of friends...including my own husband!! 
   
  In addition, I don't need anyone to go along with my opinions to keep the peace. I enjoy a good debate. I've enjoyed *this* debate, except when we've gotten personal and attacked each other. 

<<<snip>>>
  
> Katie: Personally, I would have felt it would have 
> been horribly awkward and unnessessary if DD 
> had suddenly turned to Harry while discussing 
> Voldemort and said, "By the way, Harry, I'm 
> gay. Just wanted to mention it. So, about 
> that prophecy..." : ) I mean, it just didn't 
> matter to the story. 

Del: I don't understand why people insist on creating 
such stupid scenarios to somehow "prove" that JKR
couldn't include homosexuality in her books. She 
had plenty of opportunities to discreetly inject 
some homosexuality in her books, just like she 
discreetly injected different races. Those couples 
kissing in the rosebushes, why couldn't one of them 
be a same-sex one? 
   
  Katie: Shockingly, Del, I agree with you. : ) I don't know what else to say on that one. I wish she *had* done that.
  Although I wish you hadn't called my scenario "stupid". I was purposely being ridiculous and *trying* to be funny! : )
  
>Katie:  My point there was, and I was really only 
> considering adults, not kids, that if you choose 
> to ignore JKR's comments, you can.

Del: That's true of adults who don't have kids who read 
HP and who have heard about the gay comments. As 
much as parents might manage to "forget" about it, 
they can't just tell their kids to forget about it 
too: they have to deal with it, even if they don't 
want to.
   
  ***Katie: I have kids. It's true that they are too young to have read Potter yet, but I certainly don't plan to open my first reading of it to them by saying, "Mommy's going to read Harry Potter to you now, and by the way, before we begin, Dumbledore is gay like grandpa." It's just not necessary for a reading of the book. As you and I agree, there is no reference to gayness in the books, so why bother with it?  I have plenty of other opportunities to discuss gayness with them. HP does not need to be the platform. 
   
  Katie



  .

 
                         

 __________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
http://mail.yahoo.com 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]