[HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: Sex! Love! Writing! and Dumbledore and Snape

[Sharon Hayes]

Susan:
Yes, this has puzzled me throughout this discussion and many others.
Does "writing him as gay" mean that he would swish or be effeminate,
or have multiple sex partners, or have any kind of sex? This seems to
me to be playing into (usually derogatory) stereotypes of gay men in
particular. <SNIP>

Sharon:
I agree. These kinds of stereotypes are born of attitudes handed down via Judeo-Christian values in western society, which clearly disaproves of homosexuality. Howevr, apart from that tradition, homosexuality has been regarded highly throughout various eras in history, the Ancient Greeks being one that comes immediately to mind. In that era, love between men was considered the highest form of beauty, something to be cherished. men still married women and produced children but the love between men was seen as something purer, even when accompanied by sex.  Plato's "Symposium" describes the different kinds of love and beauty and comes to this conclusion. The ancients greeks did not distinguish between sexual "orientations". It was all just "normal" no matter who you loved.