Harry Potter's Dumbledore is Gay, and so was My Principal

After completing her series, she now has revealed that Albus Dumbledore, Hogwart's kind and just headmaster as well as brilliant wizard, is gay. Of course, this has caused yet another Harry Potter-centered outcry. After many libraries across the country have banned the series based on the magical theme of the beloved children's series, I wonder how many parents are back to their ranting at PTA meetings?

I have an ugly suggestion for those opposed to a gay character in children's books, but I will refrain. Rowling's book, which began as notes on a cafe napkin, has become an international sensation with millions of readers young and old worldwide.

Harry is shaped through his pre-teen years with his admission to a renowned and highly respected wizardry school, where things are bound to be very different from the closet where he lives with his aunt and uncle. While based on fantasy, Harry's experiences (those good, bad, and foreign to him) allow him to grow strong in his mind, body, and soul. Though not without many enemies, Harry accumulates a large number of acquaintances throughout the wizarding world as well as close, personal friends.

So, what's the deal?

Parents are enraged that their children be exposed to even the hint of a homosexual theme at such a tender age. Rowling's characters are multi-dimensional individuals versus the black and white Dick and Jane of other children's books; she creates her characters attempting to express to readers a great realization of life, that all individuals are different which makes for the wonderful human element of her story and our world. Rowling has used her storytelling gift to shape the minds of young readers. If a child is old enough to read a book the length and level of Harry Potter, he deserves to at least experience another viewpoint on the world other than his parents', even if the parents would rather shelter their children from certain themes.

I will not say in this article whether I believe homosexuality is right or wrong nor do I claim to know when parents should stop sheltering their children, but what I do know is that every child deserves to grow up without being subjected to their parents' bias.

In Mark 10:14, Jesus blesses the children and says that the "kingdom of God belongs to such as these." Granted, we cannot live our lives entirely as children; we need to learn to protect and provide for ourselves. Why does the kingdom of God belong to those like children, then? Because they are entirely without prejudice. A child sees the world through lenses of love and as he grows, he hardens his heart for a million reasons to a million different kinds of people...

...because his parents don't eant him to play with the Muslim children across the street.

...because his parents don't want him to be in the black teacher's class.

...because they don't want him to have a gay principal.

My elementary school principal was gay, but I didn't have a clue until afterward. He left the school when I was in the fourth grade.

A few years later my mother and I drove by his home on a road outside of our neighborhood. I didn't even know that it was his. It was just like all the other houses in our area, a modest two or three bedroom home with a single carport, except that it was a bit better kept-up and was accented by some landscaping, roses, I think. Out of the blue she said, "It's a shame what they did to him" and proceeded to tell me what happened. Apparently the locals had such an opposition to his personal lifestyle that they ran him out of the district. He now teaches at a Women's college in the city.

I was shocked, not at hearing that he was gay, but rather that anyone should doubt him because of it. I was heartbroken to hear this, but more so because I was too young to do anything about it. Had anyone asked me? Did the PTA ask me if I had a problem with his sexuality? Did the district superintendent ask me if he had acted inappropriately?

My principal was an incredible man and was just like how any elementary school principal should be. He knew most of the students by name, popped into classes to participate, and was always present at school events, getting his face painted and volunteering as the victim of the dunking booth at the school carnival. He was not only an adept administrator, but also a friend to the students and more. I personally used to think of him as a second father; for one, he actually looked like and he gave me the same bear hugs as my dad. Also, he was aware of my academics and was very proud of me. The woman who followed I'm sure did an adequate job and the man who became principal after her was a very kind, good man as well, but nobody could fill the shoes of principal after he had left, leaving the space to fill so vast.

My middle school principal spoke with a higher-pitched voice than expected of most men. The rumor was that he had sustained an injury in Vietnam which caused him to speak so, but whenever he spoke the students would giggle and whisper, "He's so gay." My elementary and middle school principals were the only ones who knew me by name, greeted me in the hallways, and personally congratulated me on each of my successes. I knew nothing about my sixth grade principal and, not being a "problem child," she knew nothing about me. All I knew of my high school principal was that he was there.

For the senior project, which we needed to complete in order to graduate high school, we had to study personal facts about my principal. When I found time in his busy schedule (nevermind my own busy schedule) I went to his office and passed his quiz. Afterwards, he made a racist remark that left me dumbfounded and in disbelief. I know now that I should have spoken up, since I was eighteen, but I didn't believe anyone would listen. Furthermore I feared that in this community that had revealed itself to me to be small-minded and pernicious that I would somehow be made to blame.

Looking back, I know that I was completely disregarded in every aspect of my education. Children can't hold their own so they rely on adults to speak for them, adults who usually end up speaking for themselves rather than their children. If I had been asked each year by caring individuals, "How is your teacher? Do you eat the cafeteria food? How is your principal?" then maybe my fate would not have been left in the hands of adults with agendas and maybe I would have had two more years with my own Dumbledore.