J.K. Rowling

Dear Ms. Rowling:

I applaud you for “outing” your Harry Potter character, Dumbledore. Admittedly, I’ve not read any of the Harry Potter books — they’re never in when I go looking for them at the library — even though I know plenty of other adults read them just as much as the kids do. Your series is obviously immensely popular with younger generations. I think that Dumbledore’s sexuality will go a long way in terms of promoting both magical and gay rights in this country.

My husband was a bit upset when he first heard about this, but then our daughter — now a sophomore at Davidson, where she’s taking a class on the Harry Potter stories — was home to do laundry last weekend and started talking with him about the larger societal impact of the Harry Potter themes and how these books are a reflection of many of the frightening and confusing choices facing young people in today’s increasingly uncertain world, and something about how ultimately your books will end up shaping domestic and foreign policy in the years to come…. That part was a bit over my head, plus I missed a large part of that discussion because the dog had yakked up pieces of dead squirrel in the living room and I had to go clean it up.

The Harry Potter series may be “over,” but your characters’ wisdom and lessons will live on forever.

Thank you,

Sandra Barnard

p.s. — What does J.K. stand for? I know I should know this (and my daughter will think I’m a total dweeb for asking), but I don’t.

p.p.s. — Do you know Tinky Winky? I heard that he’s (it’s?) gay, too. What do you think about that?