Hot Dumbledore Will Not Be Straightwashed

Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes.

Finally, we will get a (tiny) peak into an LGBTQ perspective in the Hogwarts universe. In a yet-unpublished interview for Empire Magazine, excerpted in the Advocate, director David Yates promises that the Fantastic Beasts sequel starring Jude Law as Dumbledore, will include “sensual moments” from his relationship with Gellert Grindelwald, unfortunately played by Johnny Depp. While I would much prefer anyone else (seriously, anyone, after reading this profile) for Dumbledore’s love, we will at least get a portrayal which does not hide his sexuality. While Dumbledore does not live as an openly gay man, it’s a smidgen more promising than Yates’s remarks from January when he had said that Dumbledore’s sexuality would not be shown “explicitly” but “all the fans are aware of [his queer romance].” In the upcoming interview, he says, “The story [of the romantic relationship] isn’t there in this particular movie, but it’s clear in what you see … that he is gay.”

Racial, religious, sexual orientation and gender identities have been consistently treated as an afterthought for the franchise, inserted into narratives by J.K. Rowling’s post-publication announcements about LGBTQ and Jewish characters or left up to stage adaptation like Harry Potter and the Cursed Child which presented the first portrayal of Hermione as a black woman. Fans have been protesting the problem of the Potterverse’s heteronormative whiteness for years, up to the present, with Fantastic Beasts giving the role of Voldemort’s snake to the only Korean woman.

Back in 2016, Rowling promised that there is “lots to unpack” in Dumbledore’s relationship over the five-part Fantastic Beasts series and told fans to “watch this space.” But it’s also been about eleven years since she announced that Dumbledore is gay, which, to put into perspective, was enough time to film and produce all eight Harry Potter movies, or, to get a Hogwarts degree and work your way to a mid-level job at the Ministry of Magic.