the gay question (longish)

[Susan McGee]

No: HPFGUIDX 4043

--- In HPforGrownups at egroups.com, "Flying Ford Anglia" 
<neilward at d...> wrote:
> I said:
> 
> <<Those of us who want to can draw our own conclusions on the 
sexual 
> orientation of some characters, without the need for tokenism  
(hey, 
> another -ism!).>>
> 
> Susan replied:
> 
> <But what if she put two or three in -- or plans to? That would not 
> necessarily be tokenism.>
> 
> [Although I'm responding to Susan's points, I've expanded on this 
> topic a bit, with apologies to those who've already discussed it to 
> death].
> 
> Bearing in mind the number of younger readers these books have, is 
it 
> feasible that JKR will write in several gay characters? 

I have concerns with the idea that portrayal of a gay character is
"not appropriate" for younger readers. 

Like it or 
> not, the introduction of a gay character would detract from the 
story 
> (unless you think JKR might be planning to out Harry in book 7, or 
> reveal that Dumbledore and Snape are longtime boyfriends).  Not 
only 
> would the author be treading on eggshells as she tried to deal with 
a 
> very sensitive topic, but also every hack journalist and `family 
> values' crusader would be on her case.  Of course, this is not a 
> *good* reason not to do it, but it is a likely reason she won't
> do it.

You are putting out your opinion as if it were fact. I do not
agree that introduction of a gay character would detract from the 
story. 

Clearly, you are arguing for JKR NOT to include gay characters 
because "every hack journalist and 'family values' crusader would be 
on her case." You say this is not a good reason not to do it, but 
likely. I think you underestimate her. Her books are selling like 
hotcakes; she's making lots of money; she has lots of guts. 
Obviously you think it's "treading on eggshells" to discuss this 
very "sensitive topic". For lots of writers and readers, it's no big 
deal. Some men love men; some women love women; some women love men; 
some go celibate all their days. This is either the 21st century or 
about to be (depending on how you count).