I’m gonna jump in here 'cause this is an issue I’m interested in, being an aspiring filmmaker/storyteller.
I do agree that our culture is putting a disproportionate amount of importance on introducing gay characters into our scripts. And many of them DO seem like “alternate lifestyle tolerance” agenda-pushers. But I see no inherent problem with characters simply being homosexual. Because that’s a fact of life - some people ARE attracted to the same sex. And as we know, that’s not in itself sinful. Why shouldn’t they be represented in media, just like any other type of person?
Someone earlier on this thread expressed distaste for JK Rowling’s saying that Dumbledore was gay, because it didn’t have any effect on the plot and therefore shouldn’t be mentioned. But I actually really like it BECAUSE it has no effect on plot. We have this idea in modern culture that your sexuality is a
huge deal, and ought to define you in a large way. And if you don’t fully embrace the various strange and involuntary things your brain chemistry does, you’re
denying your true self. But we don’t see Dumbledore having a husband or hitting on the other teachers, do we?* Rowling has implied that there was perhaps attraction involved when he was working with Grindelwald in his youth, but the extent of that is entirely up to interpretation. In the end, Dumbledore is awesome and it has nothing to do with his sexuality.
Anyway, that’s my two cents. I look forward to catching up with this thread later.
- (Unless we’re watching a Very Potter Musical
)