Sexual orientation

Sexual orientation describes a pattern of emotional, romantic, or sexual attraction to men, women, both genders, neither gender, or another gender. The four main categories are heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality and asexuality. While an individual’s sexual orientation along with one’s gender, religion and racial denomination can often be a target of discrimination in the Muggle world, wizards tend to place discrimination on blood purity. Because of this, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is considered a "safe place" for individuals.

Known LGBT individuals

 * Albus Dumbledore — gay

Behind the scenes

 * Dumbledore, along with being gay, was also revealed to be asexual in his later life, which is the lack of sexual attraction. J. K. Rowling explained that he became so after realising that his love for Grindelwald had compromised his sense of right and wrong. As she put it: "He lost his moral compass completely when he fell in love and I think subsequently became very mistrusting of his own judgement in those matters so became quite asexual. He led a celibate and bookish life."
 * In J.K. Rowling: A Year in the Life, J. K. Rowling was asked if Charlie Weasley was gay, to which she jokingly, and respectfully responded that he was not, just, "He's more interested in dragons than women."
 * David Thewlis has said that Prisoner of Azkaban director Alfonso Cuaron told him to portray Remus Lupin as a "gay junkie".
 * In 2016, many fans were under the impression that Sirius Black was homosexual. This theory was rejected by J.K. Rowling herself, this caused a lot of outrage from fans who critizised her for having a lack of LGBT characters.