So I’m all for promoting tolerance and inclusive characters, but I don’t think it has the same effect if no one knew…or cared. Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling announced last week (while I was away in London, an ocean away from my computer) that Potter’s mentor Albus Dumbledore is a homosexual. Ian McKellen must be pissed for missing out on this role.

I want to know what’s Rowling’s point for announcing this now. Yes there’s fan fiction that questions Dumbledore and about every other Harry Potter character’s sexuality, so I don’t really count that. As a lover of Harry Potter and someone who reads homosexuality in everything (like Batman, Frodo and Sam, and Magneto in the X-Men movies) I never even cared about Dumbledore’s sexuality. He’s a really old dude and that’s ewwwy.

But if Rowling is trying to show her stories to be filled with diverse characters, maybe she should have put this detail in the books. It doesn’t have to be overpowering. Just characterization. This way us readers could have debated and argued and watched the Religious Right fume. Now, it’s just like…uh…yeah…cool. Way to get back into the headlines. You go Rowling.

I wonder if this will be written out of movie Harry Potter continuity. Don’t be surprised if Dumbledore starts making eyes at Professor McGonagall.