Dumbledore Outed

During a recent Q&A session at the Carnegie Hall in New York, JK Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series, answered a question about one of her characters' love life by stating that he is gay.

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore is, for the majority of the series, the headmaster of the fictional school attended by Harry Potter, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and founder of the "Order of the Phoenix", a fictional organisation dedicated to fighting the main antagonist of the series, Lord Voldemort. JK Rowling also stated that Dumbledore is actually "smitten" by his rival, Gellert Grindelwald.

About the reaction of her audience to her announcement, Rowling said:"I would have told you earlier if I knew it would make you so happy."

Fans have apparently been speculating about the character's sexuality for quite a while. Although Harry Potter has a girlfriend in the books, people have also found parallels between's Potter's early life as a budding wizard with the live experience of young LGBT people.

What Is It About Harry? by Michael Bronski, Boston Phoenix, July 7, 2003

See also:
JK Rowling outs Dumbledore as gay - BBC News
Activist welcomes 'Dumbledore is gay' revelation - Ireland Online
Albus Dumbledore - Wikipedia

Picture shows actor Michael Gambon as Albus Dumbledore in the film Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.