onlyinraresouls-blog

[onlyinraresouls-blog]

LGBTQ & the Wizarding World

Put under a cut cause I’m just rambling and it’s a little long.

Disclaimer: This is about in character/in world LGTBQ+ opinions within the Wizarding World/Harry Potter franchise, not about Rowling's personal feelings on the topic(s) in the real world.  Somehow, it came up for me a few years ago that I was curious about what the wizarding world thought about same-sex couples and things of that nature. It doesn’t take a hard Google to find her replying to someone on Twitter, saying wizards don’t concern themselves with someone’s sexual orientation, it’s all about magic for them, it’s only muggles (and therefor possibly implied, muggleborns) that care 

It also brings up a Pottercast interview, where she has the following exchange: 

MA: We wanna talk about Dumbledore so bad. We know that you've created worldwide intrigue when you said that he is gay. But I wanted to ask you about homosexuality in the Wizarding World in general. Is it a taboo?

JKR: Now, that's something I never thought of. I would think that that would be-- it would be exactly what it is in the Muggle World. But the greatest taboo in the Wizarding World is, well, for some wizards... I mean if we're talking about prejudiced people within the Wizarding World, what they care most about is your blood status. So I think you could be, um, gay, pure-blood, and totally without any kind of criticism from the Lucius Malfoys of the world. I don't think that would be something that would interest him in the slightest. But, you know, I can't answer for all witches and wizards because I think in matters of the heart, it would be directly parallel to our world.

She doesn’t elaborate any more on what she means by “exactly what it is in the Muggle world, whether she means that the muggle world influences it (so as it becomes more accepted in the muggle world, it’s more accepted in the wizarding world), or if she just means there are some people that support it, and some people who hate it. It feels like more the latter, especially as she gives Lucius as an example of not caring. 

I do, however, feel like this isn’t portrayed well in any bit of official Potter storytelling. I think Lucius Malfoy would absolutely care, but for a different reason than a muggle might. Mostly muggles (I.E regular humans) see it as a sin/against their religious beliefs, or just unnatural... while some people defend the idea of it being “unnatural” by saying a same-sex couple can’t create, I think it’s that defence that would actually be the bigger issue in the wizarding world; a lot of pureblood families, such as the Malfoys, want a big, pure lineage. You know what a gay pureblood wouldn’t be able to provide? An heir. So in a way, do I think Lucius would care if Harry (being a half-blood) or someone he doesn’t care about being in a same-sex relationship? No. But if Draco, or Bellatrix, or Regulus was gay/in a same-sex relationship? Yes, I feel like he’d have a negative opinion, unless/until he was informed of a way that they’d still produce a pureblood heir (we, of course, don’t know whether or not artificial insemination or things of that sort are available in the wizarding world.) 

So some purebloods would probably care if it affected their lineage/may judge other families if it affected their lineage -- I don’t imagine the Weasleys, despite being pureblood and a family in the Sacred 28, would care if any of their children were in a same-sex relationship. But say the Weasley’s only had one child, or even just using Bill as an example... say their proper heir was in a same-sex relationship. Then yes, I could see people like Lucius turning their nose up at the fact it would put a damper on their bloodline, just like if they ended up with someone who was half-blood or (le-gasp) muggle-born. 

Not every pureblood family is obsessed with purity and lineage, which I already gave an example of with the Weasleys. So where does that leave the rest of the majority of the wizarding population? 

Muggleborns are pretty simple. You can take her statement of “exactly what it is in the muggle world” a bit more literally. It would be influenced by the world they grew up in. A muggleborn who went to school with Albus Dumbledore would be far less likely to be accepting of his homosexuality, than a muggleborn who went to school with Albus Potter, going on the hypothetical that Albus Potter would be less than heterosexual, of course.  But of course, that doesn’t mean every Muggleborn is homophobic. It varies from family to family, be it 200 years ago, or today. It would be a mix of their family, their environment, yes the times, and also their own personal opinion. All they have to go on at that point is the muggle world.

As for the half-bloods, and the purebloods who don’t take importance in blood status, I assume the second bit of what I said about Muggleborns could be said for them -- it just varies from family to family. As far as we know, there isn’t really “religion” to get in the way, but there is still the idea of it just being “unnatural”, though I think half-bloods would be more likely to have a higher population of homophobes, in comparison to purebloods - they still have muggle family members, who could cause them to have negative feelings about people who aren’t heterosexual, but again, like muggleborns, it depends on a whole lot more than just being muggle or even the time.

I appreciate the idea of Jo wanting to create a world where homophobia isn’t a big thing. but it is a bit too simplistic, and too one-note, which is why my explanation took longer.   I do not take into account the lack of same-sex couples in Potter, as the books were published for children, starting in the 90s, ending in the early 2000s... even now, having LGBTQ+ characters isn’t always exactly encouraged and can be met with backlash, so back then, even if she wanted to (if she’s said anything about ever having any plans of having an LGBTQ+ character besides Dumbledore, I haven’t seen it), I wouldn’t be surprised if her editor or the publishing company shut it down; that part is pure speculation. She may have had no interest in another character, and just didn’t have the inspiration or find it relevant. 

I don’t particularly dismiss Dumbledore being gay not said in the books as meaning it was an “afterthought” or a “way to be inclusive.” I accept the idea that it’s possible, but given who Dumbledore’s character was, I find it to be perfectly valid that it just didn’t come up. Had she said Harry was canonically bi the entire time, then I’d think it was an afterthought or a way to be inclusive, because apart from acknowledging a few male characters as attractive/good looking/handsome (something you can very much do with the same -sex and still be straight), we see no signs of him having any interest in the same sex, and he’s our protagonist, our eyes and ears, for 7 books, over 7 years of Harry’s life.

Other people within the LGBTQ+ world, beyond just same-sex couples (trans, nonbinary, ace/arom/etc), is an entirely different conversation that I can only give headcanons and speculation on, because to my knowledge, she’s never made any public statement about them existing, or the wizarding world’s opinion on them. I can make assumptions that I believe would make sense, but that would be another long rant.  Maybe I’ll save that for another day.

[onlyinraresouls-blog]

Let me lay some facts on y'all: the reason Dumbledore's appearance changed so dramatically between Fantastic Beasts and the OG Potter series is because he had to put his boyfriend in jail and didnt take it well

[onlyinraresouls-blog]

Someone... needs to make a Grindeldore video to War of the Hearts by Ruelle...

I’d do it myself, but I don’t know Toby’s work as well as I know Jamie’s... 

[onlyinraresouls-blog]

Gellert’s expulsion?

Why do you guys think Gellert was expelled from Durmstrang? It’s a school known for teaching Dark Arts, but it couldn’t have been so bad that Albus wouldn’t want to be around him (unless it’s part of the thing where Albus mentions he closes his eyes to what Gellert truly was.) 

All we know is that he used excessive force, because of Albus’ letter to Gellert -- “We seize control FOR THE GREATER GOOD. And from this it follows that where we meet resistance, we must use only the force that is necessary and no more. (This was your mistake at Durmstrang! “

Did he just get into a fight with a Professor? Or another student? Perhaps they’re only allowed to use the Forbidden Curses in class, and he uses Crucio or Imperio (I doubt Avada) on a student/professor? He used Crucio on Aberforth, so it’s possible at that age he’s quick-tempered. 

I’m curious as to other people’s thoughts. And I wonder if we’ll ever get it answered. 

[onlyinraresouls-blog]

That theory makes a lot of sense, however I'd change "Albus deflects his brother's spell towards Grindelwald" as to just him deflecting it... he means to send it away from all four of them, but there's a chance that he deflected it and it hit Ariana. I've always wondered why Albus was worried it was him... Unless it was just a simple spell that was harder on Ariana, they'd all have to be throwing around dangerous spells. I've always had a hard time believing that Albus would be throwing around dangerous spells around Aberforth or Gellert, especially since he's so shocked and hurt by Gellert abruptly leaving after the fight. If Albus was throwing deadly spells at him, it wouldn't be surprising... and I don't see him throwing them at Aberforth. So with that, it means he wasn't actually the direct one to cast it, but in a way, it'd still be his fault.

I just had an idea and I don’t have the books with me to clarify.

There has been speculation about what Dumbledore actually saw when he drank the potion in the cave.

He said something along the lines of “don’t hurt them, hurt me instead”. Before FB we would have assumed he was talking to Grindelwald. But we now know because of the pact that makes little sense.

What if it was spoken to Ariana instead….

Aberforth said: “and I think she wanted to help, but she didn’t really know what she was doing” Maybe she turned into obscurial form and focused on those actually fighting, Grindelwald and Aberforth. Albus could be talking to Ariana, asking her not hurting them and to turn her attack to him. Grindelwald took this as being part of his prophecy of an obscurial killing Albus and he turned his attack toward Ariana. Aberforth tries to stop Grindelwald (now distracted) with the same dangerous spell. Albus deflects his brother’s spell toward Grindelwald. 3 spells happening at once. 2 dangerous and all 3 men involved in some way (casting or redirecting them). “and I don’t know which of us did it, it could have been any of us”

It also still explains why Grindelwald feels betrayed and Aberforth cannot forgive Albus.

Grindelwald feels as though he did the right thing/was justified.

And for Aberforth, the last thing he sees before Ariana’s death was Albus protecting the one who possibly killed her/attempted to kill her.

And Albus, regardless if deflecting the spell had caused any harm, he is still to blame for bringing the conflict by being close with Grindelwald.

What do you think. I don’t have all the info but…

[onlyinraresouls-blog]

The thing that also bothers me when people say Jo added it as an “afterthought” clearly don’t understand Albus as a character. Ignoring everything in the real world (such as the fact she was publishing them in the 90s, and gay marriage didn’t become legal in the US or UK until after the books were published, so getting it approved by a publisher would be hard), Albus was a private person. Elphias Doge directly asks Harry if he even knew Dumbledore at all. When Aberforth was talking to them about Grindelwald, there’d be no point to mention that they had a romantic relationship (especially since Aberforth likely knows his brother is a private person), and I don’t know that he’d confirm it during the Kings Cross scene either. There was literally no point in the series where it’d be relevant for that information to come out. 

As a writer myself, you have so many notes about your characters that may never become relevant to the story. She said herself she has a whole backstory for McGonagall that also never got told. Representation doesn’t have to be directly in your face, and I know people are hoping we’ll see more of it in FB (I certainly am, because I’m trash for Grindeldore), just remember we’re only two movies in. 

I, of course, would have loved to see more representation in the initial HP books, but again, it was the 90s/early 2000s. Even as it almost being 2020, LGBTQ+ characters are controversial and few and far between.

I just want to share some thoughts on JKR that I've been having for a while. I know she's a very flawed person, and tumblr apparently loves to diss people who aren't perfect, but she also doesn't deserve this blantant hate the HP fandom has for her.

I was 11 when the Deathly Hallows book came out. Me and my mother waited in line, and bought the book the day it was released. To say that I inhaled it in a couple sittings is an understatement. While reading, I could sense there was something more in the relationship Dumbledore had with Grindelwald, but I was never sure. I was a teenager in deep denial of being gay, so I assumed I was just making it up. I should include that I live in a homophobic country, and was raised with strict religious beliefs, so I never before saw a gay person in media/books. We had and still have strict filters on entertainment.

Then, some time after the book's release, JKR confirmed my suspicions: Dumbledore was gay.

Dumbledore is possibly the most powerful wizard in Harry Potter universe. He went against dark wizards, and held his own against Voldemort. He's one of the most known characters, right next to Harry. And he was gay.

Now, Harry Potter series is considered children's books, and are popular around the world. Kids like me, who lived in unsafe conditions, have read it, and related to the characters. Then, it may seem out of the blue for some of people, but Dumbledore's sexuality was revealed. That character we all so loved, was like us.

JKR did that for me. She slipped through my country's weird bans, and put a major gay character, in a children's book, where anyone could read it.

And I'll always respect her for that.

[onlyinraresouls-blog]

My angel. My light. My favourite person.

[onlyinraresouls-blog]

I’ve definitely always thought Gellert left pretty much the second he realized Ariana was dead. Maybe it’s me wanting to have too much faith in Gellert, but to me, I think he was scared, and he didn’t want to hear that Albus hated him and didn’t want to be with him/he didn’t want to hear Albus tell him to go away. So he ran. He thought he was doing what Albus would have wanted, and he made the choice for him. The theory above just goes into further detail, and follows a lot of my own beliefs. 

Hey grindeldore side of fandom: do you think that gellert left immediately after the duel without a single word to Albus, not wanting to go through the confrontation he felt most assuredly would await him, or do you think there was one last moment where he tried to get Albus to go with him but Albus refused and it may have gotten tearful with raised voices and that’s when gellert left? Also: do you think gellert had the blood troth with him to begin with when he left or do you think he took it from Albus directly/snuck into albus’s room while he was sleeping

[onlyinraresouls-blog]

Grindeldore

All I need is someone to give me someone to give me Grindeldore, be it here, Discord, Line, I don’t care. I just need my shippy feels. 

[onlyinraresouls-blog]

You were a risk, a mystery, and the most certain thing I’ve ever known. —  Beau Taplin • T h e  C e r t a i n t y

[onlyinraresouls-blog]

Gellert Grindelwald Indie Roleplayer

Looking for other HP characters to play with.