[HPforGrownups] Re: gay characters

[Kathryn Cawte]

No: HPFGUIDX 70959

Diana
I am a little confused as to why someone is thinking that these
characters are gay anyway. I mean they could be but what gives them
the clues. I've read somewhere, not sure which post, that Lupin is
feminine and doesn't stand up to his buddies. Also, someone posted
that Lupin and Sirius gave a together Christmas gift and Lupin lives
with Sirius. Well, seeing that Lupin is poor and doesn't have a job
maybe Sirius didn't want him to feel bad about it and put his name on
Harry's gift. I know I've done this before with family members.
Also, why would Sirius refuse letting Lupin stay with him. I mean
why not?
 
Me -
 
It's called a theory. A hypothesis based on canonical evidence. Yes there
are clues (imo) - the way Lupin and Black interact is very similar to how
the Weasley parents react, Lupin appears to be the only person other than
Black to have a 'key' to the Black House (he doesn't ring the bell like
other people do), he lives there unlike anyone else, they give joint
presents. Of course these things can be interpreted in other ways but they
can be equally interpreted to show that they are a serious couple. Then you
add in the fact that teenage Sirius seemed totally oblivious to the girls
thinking he was hot in the pensieve and we have a credible theory. None of
us are saying it is a definite fact just that the evidence *could* be
interpreted to mean that. Just as some people think there is evidence that
Snape was in love with Lily or that Percy is a super undercover spy or that
James and remus performed a switching spell for goodness sake. Frankly
compared to some of the canon evidence presented for theories around here we
re sitting on rock solid proof! (I'm not getting at any particular theory or
theorist here)
 
Diana -
Another thing, just because a man is feminine doesn't mean he is
gay. We can not assume he is gay just because of his
characteristics. It we do "label" him as gay because of how he is,
then we must take notice of certain other teachers who must
definitely be gay. If were are going by this criteria then we must
assume that Prof. Grubbly-Plank is gay and also Madam Hooch. Grubbly-
Plank acts very manly, smoking a cigar and wearing her hair very
short.
 
 
Me -
 
Firstly Lupin, Feminine??? You have got to be kidding? I have never seen him
in that light. I don't think he's overly masculine in the sense of a jock or
something but while I see him as quiet and studious I don't think those
characteristics make one feminine, and I don't remember him being described
in any way that wouldf make him feminine. I;m sure there are people out
there who could convincingly make a case for rampantly hetrosexual Hooch or
totally gay Grubbly-Plank but I'm not getting into that because I've never
paid enough attention to them to make an opinion either way.
 
Diana -
If we are going by the fact that they do not have significant others
then we must assume that most of the staff is gay. Dumbledore is 150
years old and do we know him to have a wife? No, he must be gay
then. And definitely Filch.
 
 
Me -
 
You ask why are we assuming they are gay - why are you assuming they're
straight? For most of the adult characters who aren't in a relationship we
have very little if any evidence either way when it comes to their sexuality
- which is to be expected. Hands up everyone who wanted to even contemplate
their teachers having a sex life? (obviously other than those teachers that
you had a crush on)
The mental image I have of Lupin actually is the type of person who is
attracted to individuals rather than guys or women in general. For Lupin I
see him as being 'with' Sirius, but not because Sirius is male but because
Sirius is Sirius. Sirius on the other hand is a teenage boy full of hormones
who seems totally uninterested in the girls around him and only interested
in the reactions of the Marauders and to me that strikes me as behaviour
that is unusual in a hetrosexual teenager. Now I fully admit that I am not
now nor ever have been a teenage boy so I can't claim to be an expert on how
they act.
 
 
 Diana -
All I am saying is we can not judge then by certain characteristics.
And if they are gay, big deal. It's not important to the story anyway.
 
Me -

As I said I don't think any of us are judging them based on their
characteristics. And 'it's not important to the story'? Well no of course it
isn't but neither is it important to the story whether Hagrid is a great
teacher or whether the k in knuts is silent or not but we've discussed all
that too. Nowhere does it say that it's against list policy to discuss
details that aren't vital to the plot. 

K

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