J.K. Rowling took a stand against homophobia over the weekend.
A Twitter user identified as Frank Fraticelli on Saturday said he hasn’t been a fan of the “Harry Potter” series since the famous British author revealed that Professor Albus Dumbledore was a gay character in the story. Fraticelli’s account didn’t exist by Monday morning, but, according to Mic, the user wrote to Rowling on Twitter, saying the author “blindsided” her fans.
Rowling responded, suggesting Fraticelli follow Brian Souter because “he’s much more your kind of person.” Souter is a Scottish businessman who funded a campaign in 2000 against the government’s proposal to repeal a legal measure that prevented local authorities from promoting homosexuality.
@halfelven55ff I advise you to start following Brian Souter at once. He's much more your kind of person.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 6, 2014
Dumbledore is the leader of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the educational establishment Potter attends throughout the seven books in the series. Rowling revealed the character’s sexual orientation at an event in October 2007.
Rowling, who has only published 176 public tweets to the social media platform, thanked her loyal fans after replying to Fraticelli.
I want to thank all the people tweeting me lovely messages. Don't worry about me – to paraphrase Albus Dumbledore…
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 6, 2014In a separate gesture earlier this summer, Rowling sent a letter to Cassidy Stay, who lost her entire family in a mass shooting in June. The 15-year-old had borrowed a quote from Dumbledore while she spoke at a memorial for her relatives in the wake of their deaths. The author wrote the note from the perspective of Dumbledore’s character. Its contents weren’t revealed.
Michele Richinick