Sydney, Oct 20 (ANI): Harry Potter author JK Rowling has exposed one of the main characters of her best-selling Harry Potter series, by revealing that wizard Albus Dumbledore, head of Hogwarts school, is gay.

Speaking at Carnegie Hall on Oct 19 in her first U.S. tour in seven years, the author confirmed what fans have long suspected -- that she "always thought Dumbledore was gay."

After a brief reading from the final book in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Rowling took questions from the audience.hen a young fan asked if Dumbledore would find "true love", Rowling answered: "Dumbledore is gay".

Dumbledore's sexuality has been a hot topic of speculation on Potter fan sites, after it was noted that the legendary wizard had no female love interest, but that he did have a mysterious past.

Rowling said Dumbledore fell in love with the charming wizard Gellert Grindelwald but when Grindelwald turned out to be more interested in the dark arts than good, Dumbledore was "terribly let down" and went on to wipe out his rival.

That love, she said, was Dumbledore's "great tragedy".

"Falling in love can blind us to an extent," News.com.au quoted her, as saying. (ANI)