From: Raymond E. Feist
Date: 14 July 1997
Actually, Stefan was straight and Manfred was gay. Stefan was turned into an abusive asshole because of how his parents acted. Manfred was merely moody and closed off. Had Stefan lived no one would have cared about Manfred being straight or not, because the issue of heirs would have been moot.
Midkemia has all kinds of cultures with all kids of biases/phobias. There are homophobic cultures and very open cultures. Great Kesh is probably the most cosmopolitan. Being gay or bi- isn't a problem down there. The Kingdom is a little more closed off, so guy folks tend to keep it quite. Not that there are any serious problems, but folks consider men who are "men-lovers" to be a bit odd, if you know what I mean. . wink, wink, nudge, nedge.
Down in the Empire of Great Kesh there are other cultures that are only tolerant because the Empire forces them to be. Just as there are cultures that treat women as property and others that treat them as holy.
Best, R.E.F.
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