Sunday, December 21, 2014

Hogwarts, according to J.K. Rowling, is a safe place for LGBT students. In a pointed allusion to her Harry Potter books, Ms Rowling said no one should live in a closet.

Author Jeff Kinney has been answering questions about his Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. Nine-year-old Emma won a competition and was given the opportunity to interview Mr Kinney. She asked Jeff what inspired his 'Wimpy Kid' books -


Jeff Kinney: My own childhood was the inspiration, and continues to be the inspiration for the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. I think that so many funny things happen to all of us. If you just thought about your day today, I bet you could find five things that would end up in a wimpy-kid-like book. ...

Jeff Kinney has also answered questions for CBBC Newsround. So far, though, he's not been asked much about diversity. Apart from in tweets by Newsround Blog, which weren't responded to.

Wimpy Kid's protagonist, Greg Heffley, has a crush on Holly Hills - so presumably he's not gay. Seems Jeff Kinney has wimped out of including any lesbian or gay characters in his books. That's unfortunate because Jeff's not yet made a stand on behalf of kids who don't want to live their whole lives in a closet.

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