I have an embarrassing confession to make: I’ve never read a single Harry Potter book. I’ll wait while you throw heavy objects at me. Yes I know they’re wonderful, and I hate that kids spend so much time with their faces plastered to televisions, video games, and computers. Anything that gets kids reading is great to me. I’m just not into the fantasy/magical genre, and yes I get yelled at whenever it comes up. I know the general premise and have been forced to a few of the movies. I’ll just admit to all that now, in case I accidentally say something that’s just totally dumb, Harry Potter-wise.

J.K. Rowling gave a reading of “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” at Carnegie Hall the other day, during which a reader asked her if Dumbledore would ever find love. She responded that Dumbledore was gay. That’s interesting, but it doesn’t really answer the question, does it?

Although suspected for some time by avid readers of her famously popular fantasy novels, J.K. Rowling has officially noted that master wizard and Headmaster of Hogwarts is a homosexual. The remarks came as Rowling spoke to a packed audience at Carnegie Hall, where she did a reading of parts of “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.” A fan asked if Albus Dumbledore would find love some day, to which Rowling replied: “Dumbledore is gay.”

She then explained that the wizard had been in love with rival Gellert Grindelwald, whom he defeated long ago in a battle between good and bad wizards. “Falling in love can blind us to an extent,” Rowling said of Dumbledore’s feelings, adding that Dumbledore was “horribly, terribly let down.” Speculation on Dumbledore’s sexual orientation has been debated among fans for years. Rowling added that while working on the planned sixth Potter film, “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” she spotted a reference in the script to a girl who once was of interest to Dumbledore. A note was duly passed to director David Yates, revealing the truth about the character.

[From the Daily News]

Is this going to cause the religious fundamentalists to boycott Harry Potter? I’m a little concerned. I didn’t realize there were so many levels and such subtlety to the books. Apparently when Rowling said Dumbledore was gay, there were gasps and applause. So you know, pretty much like most people’s coming out. Just on a slightly grander scale.

Picture note by Jaybird: Here’s J.K. Rowling at the “Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix” premiere on July 3, 2007 in London. Images thanks to PR Photos.