Are Dumbledore Tattoos Equivelent to Gay Pride Tattoos?

Now that Professor Dumbledore of Harry Potter lore has been outed by author J.K. Rowling as having been gay, some previous admirers of the Hogwarts headmaster are suddenly changing their tune.

A recent story has been circulating about a UK man who spent hundreds of dollars and many hours getting a tattoo on his back of the beloved icon. Now his children and co-workers snicker and make comments about his sexual orientation since the outing of the professor.

Why does the sexual orientation of a person - fictional or real - suddenly change their validity in the eyes of others? While some may now be embarrassed by their affection for Dumbledore, others cheer and celebrate the audacity of J.K. Rowling to attribute such a controversial trait to one of her most popular characters. When she made the announcement to a large audience, the initial hush was then followed by resounding applause. That same dual reaction has been seen on a global scale.

Gay or straight, it shouldn't matter. Professor Dumbledore was an amazing person in the fictional world, setting a wonderful example in matters of love, humility, bravery and honor. If you loved him before - especially if you loved him enough to immortalize him in ink - absolutely nothing about him has changed. He remains the same person - who he loved and what intensity he loved them with makes no difference. I still can't wait to get started on my own Harry Potter/Dumbledore tattoo!