How Will Christians Respond to Dumbledore's Coming Out?

Will the literary industry's world be turned upside down by the revelation that Professor Dumbledore, the head of Hogwart's School for Wizards and Witches, prefers the company of males? It seems unlikely - and I personally think it's an excellent example of literary maturity on the part of J.K. Rowling. However, the book series has long been criticized by Christians across America, feeling that they are attempting to lure children into Satanism, Paganism, Wicca, and Black Magic. Rowling has denied these claims - telling the Associated Press rather that the book series encourages people to "question authority".

In the midst of a national clash over the ability for gays to marry to begin with, how will these hard line Christian groups react to this revelation? Fundamentally it has clearly had absolutely no impact on the story telling - save for an instance where the Associate Press reports that the film version of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince had to have a script edit due to a reference to a past female love. Though speculation has constantly been abound, this should not necessarily be considered unique to the Head of Hogwarts, after all, the internet is flooded with Spock-Kirk fan fiction of a questionable nature.

Many have read the book series and had never been clued into the head master's sexuality - perhaps because the position he played was not one where physical or emotional relationships had any real bearing on the over all story. His position of dignity was much like the officer in a battalion - what he did in his own time, behind closed doors, mattered very little and was never brought up by those beneath him. What mattered was that he was the final authority in his specific school.

This made J.K. Rowling's strict adherence to this otherwise unknown trait of such a beloved character impressive in many ways - as she stayed true to her character both on and off the pages.

But it is more than a little humorous to imagine the imminent cries and wallows of those who already believe that the book has the sole intent of corrupting their children. The Malleus Malificarium does not precisely have an edict on how to deal with homosexual headmaster wizards - though it may be easy to assume that these parents will read this as an indication that their children are at the risk of themselves becoming homosexual. Much like the accusation that video games induce violence, there is a belief that children exposed to such a character will quickly don their broomsticks, wizard hats, and begin singing Barbara Streissand.

Perhaps the most amusing thing about that, however, is that the sexuality of Dumbledore is never truly brought into consideration except outside the "fourth wall". Without the inquiry of a curious reader at a reading outside the book, this revelation may very well have died with the author in the future.

As a Christian, I personally urge fellow Christians to look upon it for what it is - an excellent piece of literature and an achievement of a mature author to remain so loyal to a character as such. However, as is the case with the entire series, it will probably befall the same claims that it has always befallen.

I predict Dumbledore being transformed in many peoples' eyes being transformed into Ray Buckey - and Hogwarts into the McMartin's Pre-School for Wizards and Witches.