what kind of obligation a writer of children's books has to defy those kinds of expectations.

I would say none. But to do it "off-screen" raises these issues.

Do they actually say the character's races in Anansi Boys?

The story would also have to take place in a setting where, to some extent, queer was the default.

Anansi Boys didn't take place in a black setting as far as I could tell.

Me, I had just reread Sandman where Neil had a black Jamaican character with the surname Bustamonte, and there are major Jamaican historical figures surnamed Bustmante, so I figured he was talking about us again--but our Bustamante wasn't really that black, so I didn't make assumption as to the races in the story.

Which is the long way round of saying--I didn't notice what race they were, but I also didn't care. I was more interested with them being Jamaican, and in the end disappointed because it was nominal.

I would say none. But to do it "off-screen" raises these issues.

Agreeing with GC once more. And I hate to leave off this conversation now, because I'm finding it really interesting, but I have to go to work.

GC, As the person who said "I don't think your statement is fair", I apologize if you felt that I was dismissing your feelings on the matter. I wasn't. In fact, I can see both sides of the big argument equally well. I was responding to a very specific statement you made, that "it appears to be worth it to [JKR] now that the series is safely wrapped." It's the "worth it" part that I had a problem with.

Let me try again: Rowling made a conscious decision to not explicitly discuss Dumbledore's sexuality in the book. We can agree or disagree with that decision, but it's the decision she made. Now, later on, for the first time (I assume) someone specifically asked her about Dumbledore's love life. What are her options? She can lie (not likely), dodge the question (which would probably have been worse), or she could do what she did.

Again, if she had been previously asked the question, and either lied or dodged it, then I agree with you 100%.

Don't have time to take part in this conversation. But my takes is essentially GCs.

Is this where I mention that it never tweaked me that the main characters of Anansi Boys were black?

I don't really have much to add to the argument, but I will say that I did notice Rowling's attempt to make the potter-verse somewhat ethnically diverse, and it did occur to me at some point that there were no gay characters. However, when it comes to authorial responsibilities, I step way back and think they owe the audience nothing. Except they should try not to suck.

Also, as a non-slasher, Dumbledore/Grindlewald didn't ping me, but I certainly thought Elphias Doge was in love with Dumbledore.

I think what I've been trying to say is "Just because you don't see it, doesn't mean it doesn't exist."

For context, see my previous posts 3185 and 3186.

Okay, now I'm curious. Am I the only one who doesn't think Snape's love for Lily was at all romantic-- or if it was, that it was totally secondary? Because she was the first real friend he ever had-- perhaps the *only* real friend he ever had-- and he broke faith with her by pushing her away, and he feels that it's therefore his fault that she died. Which, to me, is a lot *more* compelling than if it were plain old romantic yearning.

All I know is, I was reading Dumbledore and Grindelwald's relationship as romantic, and Snape and Lily's as platonic, and the book itself neither confirms nor denies those readings. Regardless of what Rowling has to say about it.

I find it hard to make the leap from that to "being gay in the HP universe is totally not a big deal!" when we're given nothing else to support that reading.

I didn't say she'd succeeded in portraying that world. I just meant that may have been her thinking. (Which means I agree with you.)

Holli, I've had that thought myself, and I've seen it in some places. I think it works just fine as a non-romantic affection and jealousy.

What Holli said.

Also, even most of the cover artists never figured out Ged wasn't white (Le Guin's Earthsea books). People tend to see what they expect.

My step-mother swore that Hermione was black, until Emma Watson was cast. That made me uncomfortable, because she pointed to physical descriptions that her generation used to describe blacks, and that my generation views as (negative) stereotyping: bushy hair and prominent teeth. But my step-m really wanted a smart, confident black girl to have a major role in the books.

Did any of the teachers have a partner? It seemed like they were all single.

I still maintain that while it wasn't as explicit as DUMBLEDORE IS GAY ON PAGE 683, D's gayness was in the text. In fact, I would argue that it's not a positive take on a gay relationship, because Dumbledore made some major life mistakes as a result of it, and it certainly didn't turn into a happy and supportive relationship. But Dumbledore is a good role model, and tragic love stories are part of the human experience, so I am cool with it.

I mean, what if she says next that Riddle was gay? That would be bad.