Heh, just seems an unnecessary label by JKR really far as I can see.
What does it really do to the books or the story?
Nowt.
Well, Rowling says that one of the reasons why Dumbledore looked through his fingers at Grindelwald's use of dark magic, was because he was in love with him. That is important. That explains something significant.
But she should have told us.
Told us in the book, not in some comment afterwards. Say it. It explains something. Not that we need a chapter called "Dumbledore's Closet" og anything (:LMAO:), but perhaps he could have said, "I loved him", or just
something hinting at what was going on. Love can make you blind. Even if you're Albus Dumbledore.
Other than that irritation, I think it's quite cool that Dumbledore's gay. Suits his character. No wonder he always protected those who were different? But that makes me wonder, by the way, how the attitude towards homosexuality is in the wizard world.
Not as if they never see stranger things.
But it makes me sad that Dumbledore, in that respect, had a lonely life.