Dumbledore and queer representation

If FB were to portray Dumbledore as gay openly: what do you think is the best way they can handle this issue? Is it important that he gets a non-problematic love-interest? Would it be ok if they addressed discrimination in the muggle world and portrayed the wizarding world as better? What do you think are some of the things the LGBTI community would like to see from the first major gay character in a blockbuster and what do you fear they might do to his storyline other than ignore his sexuality?

If we accept the idea that Dumbledore’s sexuality is going to be represented in the text, and it isn’t just going to be alluded to, or acknowledged in passing without being developed, then the fears I have are:

• His sexuality is treated as if it is of no consequence within society
• His sexuality is inadvertently treated as a deviancy that needs to be curtailed

The first point is comprised of the following problems:

• There’s no representation of any sexuality other than heterosexuality within any part of the existing franchise; this means there’s not simply a lack of evidence that homosexuality is accepted within the wizarding world, but an indication that it isn’t accepted
• Homosexuality in the Muggle world was criminalised during this period
• Upon rejecting Grindelwald’s ideology of Wizarding Supremacy and subjugating Muggles, Dumbledore positions himself as an advocate for a more integrated society.  How does he resolve this with the knowledge that people who share his sexuality are prosecuted / imprisoned / outcast / ruined / blackmailed / can’t live ‘freely’ within the Muggle world?

I generally fear that this will not be dealt with at all.  I think Dumbledore’s sexuality will be raised and treated as if it’s of no consequence.  I think there will be no reaction from others, no exploration of the wider context, and in the very best case scenario, you might hear (or see in the papers) mention of a relationship between two men or two women just to establish he’s not alone.

So, my major fear is that Dumbledore’s homosexuality will occur in a vacuum.

The second point really links back to the HP series itself, and is a complaint I’ve made before.  The point with this is that it’s not deliberate – but that you can inadvertently tell a story that you hadn’t intended.

For instance, it’s possible to read the Dumbledore / Grindelwald story as: a charismatic, charming and attractive man dragged Dumbledore down a dark path in his youth, and Dumbledore was only able to become ‘good’ again once he renounced the man and his beliefs. The man was then a threat and a dark shadow over the whole wizarding world until Dumbledore garnered the courage to face up to him, defeat him, and imprison him.  The man stayed locked away forever, whilst Dumbledore lived a single, seemingly celibate life.

I’m not saying that the author intended to write a gay danger story - but, as it stands, there is a horrible truth that this is the closest thing we have as a representation of a non-heterosexual relationship (author intentions and what can be read into the text are not always the same thing). We have lots of heterosexual portrayals of relationships, both healthy and unhealthy – but nothing to compare this relationship to, and when something is the only portrayal, it’s damaging if it’s negative.

And there’s some awkward messaging that lurks beneath the surface.  For instance, Dumbledore is presented as an influential, powerful and successful wizard who isn’t prevented from reaching his potential due to his sexuality – but he lives in a world where heterosexuality doesn’t just dominate, but is the only portrayed sexuality.  Dumbledore might be homosexual, but he doesn’t utter a word about his sexuality, nobody appears to know about it, he doesn’t date, he isn’t married, he doesn’t have any relationships.

Therefore, Dumbledore is a portrayal of a non-threatening homosexual – a homosexual who is so quiet about his sexuality, it doesn’t exist.  This accidentally reinforces the idea that queer people can be very successful as long as they don’t indulge, or sully themselves with a relationship, or go around pushing it in everyone’s face.

And that’s my second point – if Dumbledore and Grindelwald is dealt with as being a story of two ex-lovers (or an infatuation from Dumbledore to Grindelwald), and Dumbledore doesn’t have a subsequent shot at a healthy relationship, then are we risking seeing a story that finally brings homosexuality to the forefront of the series…and it’s portrayed as something dangerous, disruptive, threatening, and violent - which needs to be curtailed and contained? 

Going back to the earlier point about Dumbledore’s sexuality being in a vacuum, is this sort of portrayal especially dangerous if there’s no point of comparison to other homosexual relationships, and whilst this tale is told, we also see positive heterosexual relationships portrayed within the text?