J.K. Rowling At Carnegie Hall: More Than an Outing!

You've probably read all over the interwebs that on Friday night, Harry Potter author J.K Rowling told a packed crowd at Carnegie Hall that Albus Dumbledore was gay (among other things). But since I was actually lucky enough to be there, I wanted to give you my first-hand account of this incredible evening.

The Set Up
My kids are huge Harry Potter fans, but I haven’t read the books. So even though I was excited, it wasn’t like I was going to see the Clash or anything.
We Arrive
Walking into Carnegie Hall and seeing thousands of totally amped fans triggered my "I love being a part of a significant cultural moment" reflex and my heart started to beat a little faster. But when JKR walked on stage and the crowd went wild, I got goose bumps. It was electric, it was joyful, and I was totally won over. Have you ever heard of a writer provoking that kind of reaction?
The Reading
JKR sat on a throne in the middle of the stage. The crowd was rapt. She was animated and charming. My kids were wide-eyed.
Then The Questions
Alright, I have to admit it: When JKR started taking questions from the audience, I began crushing on her. She spoke to each person intimately and sincerely—and she gave funny, thoughtful answers (a lot of which went totally over my head, but my kids were nodding with rapt attention).
The Big Question
A teenager stood up and spoke from the bottom of her heart about how the Harry Potter books had given her the strength to be herself. She then asked: “Did Dumbledore ever find love?”
JKR was clearly moved and replied, "I owe you a truthful answer after how much you opened yourself up to me. I always thought of Dumbledore as gay.”
The entire crowd burst into spontaneous, prolonged cheers and applause. I did too! It wasn’t because of the answer (who cares really)— I think it was because it's so rare to witness a completely honest exchange in a setting as public and orchestrated as a Carnegie Hall event. It was clear that JKR didn't plan to out Dumbledore. She just cares about being true to her readers.
She’s wasn’t there to sell more books or to promote her next project, she was just there to connect, honor, and try to give back the love that her fans give her.
Finally
JKR said that the Harry Potter Series was a prolonged argument for tolerance, and a plea for an end to bigotry. Her parting words: “I think that’s one of the reasons that some people don't like the books, but I think that it's a very healthy message to pass on to younger people—that you should question authority.” We were all just completely blown away. I felt so lucky to have been there and just plain grateful that in our skanky celebrity culture there is someone who can really be a hero for children!
I heart You J.K. Rowling!

Comments

[sandy]

who cares! Why didn't she write it in the book. She never wrote about any of the teacher having been married or had a boyfriend or girlfriend. So are all of them gay?

[shelina]

Sounds like a wonderful event. Too bad that

some people still don't get the importance

of "prolonged argument for tolerance".

[Kristin]

I am uber-jealous that you were there. But shame on you for not reading the books! Get on it, sister! :)

[Prisca]

I'm really appreciative of your comments here. Even more so because you *haven't* read the books and you still GOT Rowling so completely. It is a shame that some people who seemed to have enjoyed the books so thoroughly haven't, in the end, gotten her message of tolerance. I hope you will read them, too!

[judy]

I just want to make a correction to my post...I was in a big rush when I wrote it...what was in my mind (but didn't actually say) was that I'm not one of those adults who would read the books w/out their kids...I read 1-4 outloud to my son—then he learned how to read...

[Elizabeth]

I commend J.K. Rowling for being so open with her fans. She never had to divulge her inner feelings about her characters--I'm sure there is loads of information, minute details, about each and every character that she kept (and still keeps) in her head as she wrote each book. Her honesty to her fans--many young people--is refreshing.

[Julee]

That's just what I was looking for -- you said it perfectly...thank you.

[Maggie]

Now I'm thinking I may want to read them. I tried several years ago and just couldn't get into them, but I do own 1-4....

[Michael Parkatti]

This whole story is pretty ridiculous, I mean it’s just totally inconsequential to make some wizard gay after the fact. Why don’t we just assume that more classic characters are gay, like the Merlin from The Old Man and the Sea?

http://www.humblenarrator.com/2007/10/23/hemingways-estate-admits-giant-merlin-from-the-old-man-and-the-sea-is-gay/

um, so because he's gay it means he can't find love?

"Did Dumbledore ever find love?"

"I owe you a truthful answer after how much you opened yourself up to me. I always thought of Dumbledore as gay.”

so?????

[judy]

Well, actually, I left out some of the complicated plot stuff because: a) I was trying to get to thing everyone was talking about. b) I figured there's enough fan sites that detail all the stuff that I didn't have to.
He did have true love with a fellow wizard who turned out to be evil and so I think in light of his bad judgement it scared him off from ever loving again (that could happen to anyone—no matter what their sexuality, or as my son explained to me, what if when you a teenager you fell in love with with a really great guy and he grew up to be Hitler, you might too traumatized to date anyone else. True that)

[Elizabeth]

The question posed was "Did Dumbledore ever find love?" What if she had simply said, "Yes."? Naturally, the next question would have been, "With whom?" I think she respected her audience that night enough (and all of her readers, really) by answering truthfully. Her revelation changes nothing.