I love that JK Rowling has started a world of Hogwarts that transcends the Harry Potter books. The latest development: Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts, is gay.
Rowling revealed this juicy tidbit during a reading at Carnegie Hall when asked by a young reader if Dumbledore ever "finds true love."
"Dumbledore is gay," she replied. She went on to say:
She then explained that Dumbledore was smitten with rival Gellert Grindelwald, whom he defeated long ago in a battle between good and bad wizards. "Falling in love can blind us to an extent," Rowling said of Dumbledore's feelings, adding that Dumbledore was "horribly, terribly let down."
Dumbledore's love, she observed, was his "great tragedy."
This makes SO MUCH SENSE that I think I just fell in love with Book 7 even more. Of course Dumbledore would have loved Grindelwald… and how much more tragic that he had to defeat him! Of course, the only bit that doesn't make sense is that Rita Skeeter didn't reveal Dumbledore's homosexuality in her tell-all scandal book. But maybe wizards don't get off on that sort of gossip?
Yes, I am this big of a geek sometimes. If you are too and want to read the full story, it's right here.