Thread by @THE_LaighaA

Since no one else is going to say it I will.

In HP4 and in the new #FantasticBeasts Dumbledore implores people to choose what is right instead of what is easy. In deciding to release this movie in China, @wbpictures did what was right. MAJOR SPOILERS ahead

I often see the narrative about '6 seconds being cut' but let me tell you about those 6 seconds. Those two lines are 'Because I was in love with you' and 'The summer Gellert and I fell in love'. Out of context, it sounds bad, but let me add some context for you

First, after watching the films more times than I will admit, I discovered 7 scenes where it was explicitly said that Dumbledore and Grindelwald love each other. Two of those times were cut, those two times were Dumbledore verbalizing his internalized homophobia to others.

A major part of Dumbledore's character is that he absolutely and unequivocally hates himself. He thinks that he is a bad person, and he equates this with being gay. In #crimesofgrindelwald Dumbledore risks going to prison instead of admitting that he is gay

In another scene in that movie, we see Dumbledore looking in the mirror of Erised and he goes back to him and Grindelwald getting married (more in a sec). Then he sees Grindelwald and we can see that he is ashamed of this. He is ashamed of seeing the person he loves in the mirror

As angsty teenage boys in love, they decide that if the world said they cannot get married, they will make their own object and vows to be married. But, because they are arrogant and naive, they assume they will be in love for the rest of their lives.

As we know they eventually break up, probably only days after they get married. But this object was designed to remind them that they love each other. It literally makes it impossible for the person wearing it to betray the other. For 30ish years Grindelwald carries it

When he and Dumbledore meet at the beginning of the Secrets, Dumbledore has it and has for several months. Grindelwald reminisces about wearing it and feeling it around his neck. Dumbledore wears it around his wrist.

And thus we come to our first line. Grindelwald and Dumbledore talk about Grindelwald "freeing" the wizards. Dumbledore avoids the topic and Grindelwald reminds him that they were (actually still are) in love AD: "When I was young... When I was —" GG: "Committed, to me. To us."

Now we get the line. Dumbledore says that it wasn't why. Why Grindelwald inquires Dumbledore says "because I was in love with you". Grindelwald acknowledges that they are in love and proceeds to call Dumbledore out for using that as an excuse when they made plans together

There is a heartbreaking scene to get to before we move on. Dumbledore is trying to recruit Theseus, head auror, to help him accomplish his goal. He shows the Theseus and Newt the item, the blood pact. When asked what it does, Dumbledore shows them

The object is designed to wrap around the wearer if they think about betraying the other and make them stop. First, it wraps around and painfully squeezes his wrist and forearm. The scars on his wrist tell us this is not the first time. It goes on to try to strangle him

Newt and Theseus are horrified that it is going this far, that he is letting it go this far. Newt calls his name 3-4 times before he finally stops. (Good luck breathing during this scene)

Let me remind you, Grindelwald misses it and wore it around his neck. There is no indication that Grindelwald EVER did this to himself.

Now onto the other line. To get you up to speed with very few spoilers, at some point in time Dumbledore becomes aware that Aberforth has a kid. He tells newt about this by explaining "the summer Gellert and I fell in love, Aberforth also fell in love, with a girl from the hollow

He goes on to explain that he blames himself for not being a better brother, with the subtext being that he was off with Grindelwald instead of "being a good brother" and he implies what happens to the child is actually DUMBLEDORE'S FAULT because he is gay.

Need a bit more of the story now. Grindelwald believes that since Wizards have been oppressed for so long, wizards should go to war with the muggles and "save the world" from the muggles. Grindelwald thinks this makes him a good person, nothing to do with his sexuality.

And finally, the emotional payoff. There is a... thing that can tell if someone is pure of heart. To the surprise of Grindelwald (but not Dumbledore), Grindelwald is not pure of heart and to the surprise of Dumbledore (but not Grindelwald), Dumbledore is pure of heart.

The message is simple but powerful, being gay does not make you a good person. It does not make you a bad person. It makes you a person. I think if this message saves one life of one kid in China, it is worth it. Looking at some coverage this choice was not easy, but it was right

Of these three scenes, two lines were cut. The message of the scenes remains intact. Like WB said it is a small change but the message remains the same. People need this message, are we going to deprive them of it because you wanted WB to make the easy choice?