Dumbledore's "infatuation"(Was: Rowling says Dumbledore is gay)

[pippin_999]

> Carol responds:
> > And I'm still concerned that a remark made by JKR in an interview is
> controlling the list. Both lists, in fact. I'd really rather see us
> thinking and interpreting for ourselves.

Pippin:

How is discussing something JKR said in an interview less thinking
and interpreting for ourselves than discussing something she said
in a book? 

If  JKR had made it explicit in canon that Dumbledore is
gay, you think we wouldn't have the exact same discussions? 
IMO, some people would still feel alienated or offended because
she'd gone too far, some would feel that way because she didn't go
far enough and some people would wish the whole discussion
would die because there are other things in the books they find 
more interesting. 

Still, it seems a bit much to ask that a living author play dead so
that fans can have the luxury of pretending her opinions on 
contemporary life are irrelevant. What's a bully pulpit for?

IMO, the books are about tolerance for *everybody* --  everyone
who hasn't adopted murder, coercion and the elimination of rights
and freedoms as a policy, even if their beliefs trouble us and we
think they need to be rearranged. There aren't any real werewolves, 
Muggleborns, centaurs or House Elves. If the books are only about 
tolerance for them, then they aren't about anything.

I wouldn't dare to say what's a Christian theme and what isn't, but
as the Anglican and Presbyterian communions have both had 
serious debates about the role of gays in the Christian community,
specifically in the clergy, I would think this is an issue of interest
to many Christians in Britain. 

Pippin