(That's right, because gay people definitely would chose to be something that they will be hated for. That people will be rude to them because of it and possible even physically attack them. That is super logical. I honestly always try my hardest to accept other peoples opinions but when people say this it just...it honestly just baffles me.) then what were u saying when u were being sarcastic?? lydjackson, thats not wat i meant. i'm no saint. i'm just proving that u chose to be straight or gay.

Honeydukes: Yup, it's Michael Gambon's 67th birthday! I hope this news doesn't affect the filming of HBP! And speaking of HBP....why hasn't Alan Rickman been listed on the cast list? If they've cut the whole Half-Blood Prince sub-plot....I'LL KILL DAVID YATES!!!!!

Sarcastic? Never. I was just pointing out how awful your buddy "Grinds" is at swaring. I'm guessing he's somewere around the tender age of eight.

I personally feel that bringing religion into this makes no sense at all - no one will be able to win their arguement here (although I must say Catie takes the cake on that one). But everyone can argue different points, and we will get no where. To be blunt, Dannyrob, your level of ignorance and blatant intolerance flabergasts me, and I sincerely hope you learn to broaden your horizons before getting off of the computer and into the real world.

I agree with Elphie. Bringing in the Bible isn't fair because not everyone is Christian and not everyone shares your beliefs. Trying to shove them down someone else's throat is no way to try to convince anyone that your opinion is correct.

okay you guys are taking this the opposite direction, like way opposite, as opposite as opposite can be. i'm not here to preach to you, i was making a point that you CHOSE TO BE GAY. do i have to spell it out for u?????

Sheesh, Danny... talk about homophobic! You honestly believe that gay people CHOOSE to be gay? Why would they choose to be something that would have morons like you hating on them? I'm not sure I believe that they are born that way... they might be, but it could easily be caused by some event in their lives. We really havea no way of knowing, do we? Personally, I love that Jo brought this topic up, because it shows how real-life issues like this exist in hp. And to those of you who like Dumbledore less now: How can a person who saved our beloved Harry's life (and the life of the entire wizarding world) countless times be suddenly brought down by sexuality? You guys need a class in Dumbledore appreciation. Wilthout him, there would be no HP, and I think that if you're so homophobic that you dislike him now, you need counseling or something, because that is a very high level of intolerance and discrimiation.

Slashers were right for once! OMG the FANFICTIONS!!!

Where's honeydukes?

OMG think of all the fan fiction this will start !!!!!!!! i seriously never saw this coming! unbelievable. and good for neville and hannah. i spose that confirms that she didnt die in the final battle which is good. but dumbledore? oh the contraversy- i wont be able to read or watch the movies the same way again. i still dont know how i feel about this.

lydjackson....please...ac tually he's 17. and will everyone stop just...insulting others? (Dannyrob, your level of ignorance and blatant intolerance flabergasts me) everyone here has different opinions...why do we have to fight about what we believe?

Yeah, I always thought it was a little weird that people say they were born gay. And Elphie, as much as I'm enjoying these wonderful lectures, I don't think they're working. Sorry.

see http://favoritepage.net/

To all of those who are saying that JKR is pulling this new information out of nowhere, haven't we all reveled in the fact that she has had this series planned out for over a decade, and that she knows our beloved characters more thoroughly than we could ever hope to?? Harry Potter is HER world, and she's been kind enough to share everything with us. Why now, are people turning on her? I'm just grateful for what she's given me, and millions of people around the world. Dumbledore's gay. Big deal. Tolerance is part of this series, and learning about good and bad. People who are now going to turn against Dumbledore because of his sexuality can't care as much about him as they are proclaiming. This by no means changes any of his relationships with anyone! Just because someone is gay doesn't mean that they are attracted to every guy or girl. As a lot of people have said, those who say they have no problem with homosexuality, but don't want to think their hero gay, are just as homophobic as those who are blatantly opposed. As for kids, they need to learn sooner or later, and why not through something they love and something that has meant so much to them over the years? Also, being from the South doesn't automatically mean that we're homophobic.

Just because I do not accept homosexuality as a valid lifestyle does not make me "narrow-minded and homophobic". My belief is that lifestyle represents immorality, and it goes against the teachings of my religion. By criticizing my views, you are proving to be hypocritical in your own ways. I am just as entitled to my opinions as you are to yours, and to condemn mine is no different than me condemning yours. You may say you find my views offensive, but I find your lifestyle offensive, so who trumps who?

Kafnut: takes one to know one....

Dannyrob, you are entitled to your opinions and I am happy for you to express them, but now that you've gotten your point across I'd suggest you just stop. You are not only being ignorant and impolite, but you are also offending people. We understand what you are saying, and have chosen to disagree. I genuinly hope you can bow out with good graces, and if you so choose to keep discussing here I hope it is about Harry Potter and not attemting to force your beliefs onto us.

This is a joke. Everyone has to understand this. There's no way that JKR would have made Dumbledore GAY...seriously people. If this is true, the series is officially ruined to me. That's just it for me. It's bad enough that she killed my favorite character, Snape, and gave us really no closure on so much, but if she throws this gay stuff out...Unbelievable!!! JKR is now just a laughingstock if this is true.

I know many people here believe that it was wrong of JKR to state that Dumbledore was gay. I agree with many other people here in that it was irrelevant to the series as a whole. But at the same time, it doesnt mean that homosexuality being introduced to kids is a bad thing. I'm sure many of you, including me, have watched a children's movie in our older years which we absolutely adored when we were a child and were shocked at how many sexual connotations were in it. A recent example would be Shrek, or even Disney's Aladdin. Most of those sexual connotations would just go over a child's head, just as they did ours when we were kids. Sure you will get awkward questions from kids about what homosexuality is, but why do we need to bring sex into it? Its 2 people who are in love with each other just like a heterosexual relationship except its with someone of the same sex. In today's world, i believe that children should be bought up to accept homosexuality more so we can ween out homophobia. Why not have a little bit in Harry Potter in order to achive that?

Oh Tony, there is no contest. The other person definitely trumps you.

Wow, he’s seventeen? You’d think he could swear by NOW. He must have been an awfully sheltered child. And honeyduke, it is much easier and less damaging to fight online than anywhere else because your comments do not really affect you. You can say whatever you want and the chances of you actually hurting someone’s feeling are very slim, unless that person is just absurdly insecure!

Tony: Lets see... you're preaching religion, we're preaching tolerance and that discrimiation is bad. Hmmmmm... seriously, though, the series has been preaching tolerance since the very beginning. You can't act all shocked that it brought up this particular topic.

dannyrob, by saying that that the bible proves that gay people are gay, you are preaching your religious beliefs because not everyone believes in the bible, so for those that don't, that's not evidence of your assertion. the vast maority of people in the educated world agree that being gay is not a choice, it is how you are born. i am absolutely disgusted at how homophobic you and other people are on this site. i wasn't aware that there were so many bigots in the hp fandom. how do you walk around with so much hate all the time?

if you dont believe it then go to -- http://news.ninemsn.com.a u/article.aspx?id=267167

yes voldy i honestly believe 100000% that ppl. choose to be gay. its just how it is, like i said, u don't have gay genes, u have physical genes that make u look like ur parents no have emotions like ur parents. i don't hate on gay pppl. i don't go picking fights with them or insulting them, i don't even talk to them. i keep to myself. but since we're talking about hp, then..

Tony, I absolutely agree that you have a right to your beliefs, and I won't try to convince you otherwise. I do not think, however, that you have a right to judge other people, as that responsibility lies with God alone, whether it's Dumbledore as a fictional character, or Jo for revealing his sexuality. Basically, I just don't think anyone has the right to intrude on anyone else's lifestyle, if it isn't hurting anyone. And I'm not talking about 'destroying the traditional family' or anything. Basically, since Dumbledore's sexuality is never brought up in the book, and never effects anything there, and one can choose whether to share this knowledge with younger children, it should not change what people think of the series.

Anyone thinking that Dumbledore sees a good ending with Grindewald in the Mirror of Erised? Also, I suspect the chapter about Dumbledore's inappropriate relationship with Harry are stories Rita invented after she discovered his sexual preferences...

yes. uh, obviously he didn't wanna write the whole word! and youre kinda just insulting him now! :S...yeah, okay, just because it's..as you say...easier and less damaging..it is insulting nonetheless...and i think everyone should just stop..

That certainly wasn't info. on Dumbledore's chocolate frog card....

Ha, dannyrob you’ve earned yourself quite the fan club. I bet ur own parents don’t lecture you this much. HAHA Spirit your hilarious. I think the Potter Puppet Pals has a whole new meaning with this new piece of informtion.

Danny: I have a solution. Do you know any gay people? Because all the gay people I know don't say that they CHOSE to be gay... do you think they're lying? Personally, I trust them over you. sorry.

Man...I still can't believe this...somebody needs to upload a video of her actually saying it before I'll believe it 100%, haha...it just seems too good to be true! This is such a wonderful addition to Dumbledore's character, it gives him even more depth, and explains a lot, too. Dumbledore couldn't confront Grindewald because he loooved him! Poor Dumbly, this news makes his worst memory even more terribly sad - his young love killing his little sister, how awful! He really must have been terribly conflicted. This really just gives me so much more insight into Dumbledore's character. I always kind of thought that Dumbly had a thing for Madame Pomfrey, but looking back on everything, it's really not too surprising that he was gay. I can't believe I didn't see it coming, hah! I guess he wasn't just eccentric... :P But really, she did it without stereotyping, and she did it with one of the most popular characters in the entire series, which is really awesome. And to all of those saying that this isn't needed in a children's book, or that she's just trying to be politically correct, and stuff like that - hellooo, it was never even brought up in the book! She just brought it up as a bit of background information because it was relevant to the discussion, and, hey, we've all been begging for background information, haven't we? To start complaining about it now because you don't like it is really immature. And to all of those implying even worse things - newsflash, homosexual does not mean pedophile! Seriously, what, are you guys living in the 50's or something? Dumbledore and Harry's relationship is entirely platonic, and I'm positive that Jo did not mean to imply anything outside of Dumbledore and Grindewald. So quit being hateful or immature, your time would be better spent realizing that Dubmledore is just amazing as before, if not, even moreso, because he retained the ability to love even after his own love caused the murder of of his sister, p...

(how do you walk around with so much hate all the time?) how can u say that about me Hermioneismyhero???? do you know me??? do you see me bothering gay ppl. all the time? because fyi i don't. i keep it to myself. you know wat i'm disgusted at how u assume. and about the bible thing, just forget it, i was stupid to bring it up. if i knew you'd act like this then i wouldn't have brought it up. i wasn't TRYING to preach to you.

*spits out cereal*...well, this made my saturday morning for me :-O....I can't wait to discss THIS with my friends...oh and congrats to neville and hannah :-)

I actually thought he was. But, when I thought that I immediately did not think Jo would make him gay so I am kind of dumbfounded. I honestly thought this was a joke and then realized well it certainly is not April 1st. Neville marrying Hannah is very cute, but I would have loved for Luna and Neville to be together. It would have been perfect. Ah well...

Also, people saying it was impossible to "knew it". I knew it. Definitely. From Grindelwald... But I also know about Sirius and Remus. And random others. Slashers. Deal with us, we KNEW it. We wrote fanfictions before this was announced and we wrote in our LiveJournals. We KNEW it. :P

Well, bye everyone I'm going to bed. Honeydukes I hope you achieve your goal of world peace soon. And Dany I hope that you'll one day be understood by the ephies and voldies of this world in your own special way. Dannyrob-You may not be gay, man, but your a weird one alirght.

nicoleM...you're right...neville and luna would've been soo perfect!

i do know that all of your comments that you've been posting about homosexuality have been completely hateful and bigoted, and seeing as you are asserting them as your own thoughts and beliefs, i'd say your doing a pretty poor job of showing that you're not a hateful person. if you really think you aren't, stop saying hateful and ignorant things.

Catie: I never said anything about judging anyone. I said that my religion teaches against homosexuality, and I believe that it is wrong. I stated that I find it offensive, and I certainly wasn't preaching my religion. I simply stated what I believed and why I believed it. What I was saying was that anyone who condemns me for my beliefs is, by definition, a hypocrite.

Man, i'm literally laughing my ass off at all you ignorant and intolerant people.

Danny: here's a simple equation I was taught in preschool: Discrimination=hate. You said some pretty homophobic things, so it really doesn't matter if you bother gay people... its still hate.

First of all I think this is great. I never would have noticed it before but now looking back I can see so many signs of DD being gay lol. Another thing I wanted to respond to was DannyRob's comment on genes and how they are a physical trait not a emotional one. You are 100% right on that. However if you believe everyone is born with a soul, the soul is where all your emotions lie. It is argued that love and hate come from the soul. The very things that make someone love someone else, whether that person is straight or gay. Those "emotions" therefore IS something that everyone is born with and they just mature as a person gets older.

yeah i think they're lying. maybe they're ashamed that they chose to be gay so they lied to u. idk there could be plenty of explanations. thanx lydjackson, i think ur weird too. can u define discrimination to me plzzz???? i think it says somewher in there an ACT (need me to spell this too?) of discriminatiing. i don't think i've done any ACTS of discriminating.

right on, voldy1788.

and again with the sarcasm...lydjackson..ser iously...who said anything about world peace? i was saying that i wished ppl would get along here...shesh...oh..and thank you for leaving now...you won't be missed by me and danny.

Okay so Dumbledore may be gay which is great but Sirius was not and neither was Remus. He married Tonks and Jo had admitted that Remus liked Lily in school. ohh the drama.

I also want to add that I am using the term soul loosely since not everyone is religious and believes in everyone have a soul. However from lack of a word to fit everyone's belief, I chose soul.

JKR has too much time on her hands now that she's not writing. She's so bored that she comes up with this Gay story. Please. All true Harry Potter fans are just going to blow this crap off and love Dumbledore as we always did. He's not gay. Seriously, if he was, it really makes you think how weird it was that he wanted Snape, "trusted him in his own way," spent so much alone time with Harry, and it brings up a lot of stuff that most people never wanted to bring up. Now, if this fake story somehow is true, JKR just gave everyone who hated Harry Potter a whole new set of weapons to attack it with. She should have never opened this Pandora's Box. Oh, and to all those people out there saying, "I KNEW IT." No you didn't. The Slasher fanfics are made by people who only wished it were true. No one on this site can just say they knew. So, stop embarrassing yourselves.

"yeah i think they're lying. maybe they're ashamed that they chose to be gay so they lied to u. idk there could be plenty of explanations." - dannyrob15 Here's an explanation: they can't control who they are attracted with. Try getting that through your thick skull.