Dumbledore is Gay

He's here, he's queer, and... he's come out of the closet perhaps seven books too late.

Yes, readers, Albus Dumbledore is gay.

J.K. Rowling stated so in a recent appearance before a packed house at Carnegie Hall. Following a brief read from her final Harry Potter book, the author took questions from the audience. One young fan asked whether Albus Dumbledore ever found true love.

Rowling replied, "Dumbledore is gay."

The audience responded with gasps and applause.

J.K. Rowling went on to explain that Dumbledore was smitten with his rival Gellert Grindelwald, a wizard he ultimately defeated. "Falling in love can blind us," said Rowling of Dumbledore's emotions, and the future Headmaster of Hogwarts was "horribly, terribly let down."

Rowling described Albus Dumbledore's love as his "great tragedy," and then quipped about the inevitable forthcoming fan fiction. However, fans have long noted the apparent lack of love interests in the wizard's mysterious past.

Rowling further explained to the audience that she spotted a reference in the script to the upcoming "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" film, of a girl who was once of interest to Dumbledore. Rowling pointed it out to director David Yates, and explained that Dumbledore is gay.

Outing Albus Dumbledore was, indeed, a bold and courageous move by author J.K. Rowling. But then, how would you categorize her withholding the information this long? Yes, it was essentially and ultimately a series for children, but there was love and flirtation, relationships and lots of "snogging." (Kissing to those of us in the U.S.).

Of course, it could have affected sales, and perhaps her publishers even forbade it. And the series had long been demonized by Christian groups who claimed it promoted witchcraft. This will no doubt give the Bible-thumpers one more reason to rant.