I hope no one objects but I would like to know if anyone...

[justanopinion2001 at hotmail.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 27248

> --- In HPforGrownups at y..., Deeblite <deeblite at h...> wrote:
> > I somehow don't think that would even occur to her.  
> 
--- In HPforGrownups at y..., heidit at n... wrote:
> But it already has, sort of.
> And no, I am not speaking of subtext here. But if m/m relationships 
> never crossed her mind in any way, she wouldn't've had ron say, "I 
> don't reckon he'd come home if Dad didn't make him.  He's 
obsessed.  
> Just don't get him onto the subject of his boss.  According to Mr. 
> Crouch ... as I was saying to Mr. Crouch ... Mr. Crouch is of the 
> opinion ... Mr. Crouch was telling me ... They'll be announcing 
their 
> engagement any day now."
> 
> 
> Now, this does not mean that Ron is implying Percy is gay, or that 
Mr 
> Crouch is, or that they're in a nonbusiness relationship in any 
way. 
> But the last sentence shows, IMHO, that in the wizarding universe 
in 
> which Ron lives, there are same-gender relationships.
> 
> If there weren't, the sentence wouldn't've occured to Ron. He 
> would've been like the people of Krikkit, who've never thought `We  
> are  alone'  simply because  it  has  never occurred to them to 
think 
> that there's any other way to be."

I think it is a bit of a stretch to read these statements as evidence 
that same-gender relationships exist in the wizarding world.  By that 
logic, we could say that Lupin's decision to select Neville to take 
on the boggart is evidence that some sort of affirmative action 
exists in the wizarding world.  

For example, even though there is much racism based on skin color in 
the real world, JKR has never even mentioned skin-color prejudice in 
the wizarding world (although she has certainly dealt with prejudice 
against giants, etc.)  It might exist at Hogwarts -- who knows? But 
until JKR tells us that it does, it doesn't make sense to spend a lot 
of time arguing that it does.

It is tempting, I suppose, to impose our own politics and view of the 
world onto JKR's wizarding world.  Based on what I've read, though, 
the wizarding world is firmly and entirely heterosexual.  JKR has 
included numerous references to boys feeling amorous in the company 
of veela and witches, including Ginny's crush on Harry, Harry's crush 
on Cho, Ron's crush on Fleur, Ron noticing Rosmerta.  (See quote 
below).  So far, JKR hasn't done that with same sex relationships at 
all.  When JKR tells us that Harry's stomach lurches when he looks at 
Neville, then we'll have something.  

Laura -- 

[The Three Broomsticks] was extremely crowded, noisy, warm, and 
smoky.  A curvy sort of woman with a pretty face was serving a bunch 
of rowdy warlocks up at the bar.
"That's Madam Rosmerta," said Ron.  "I'll get the drinks, shall I?" 
he added, going slightly red.  Prisoner of Azkaban, Ch. 10.