Before modification by darius_sedai at 09/01/2016 11:22:27 PM
Apparently same-sex relationships are accepted in WOT as a matter of course, and racism is completely nonexistent. RJ's quotes state as much, too.
Now, I'm thinking that this is a remnant from the more enlightened Age of Legends, where such things probably truly were nonexistent. But isn't it a bit implausible? We're treated to a lot of other signs of provincial attitudes (2rivers initial hostility to strangers) and outright xenophobia (Aiel) and since black people appear fairly rare in the main continent, I would expect some prejudice at least. Or maybe a character wondering if a random Sea Folk person was badly sunburnt or something.
Homophobia, and to a degree racism, is rooted in religion, especially in religions like Christianity and Islam. These don't exist in Randland and no one ever said 'guys can't be together' in some tome from the AOL, so homophobia never started.
Discrimination always has a chronological but usually senseless origin. Rand has encountered 'racism' for looking like an Aielman because of his red hair. That came from the war with the Aiel as well as the general 'barbarism' witnessed by people when they met the Aiel.
Black Africans were taken as Slaves because European imperialism made it possible and those trying to justify it turned to the Bible for passages that would explain how "the white man is superior in the eyes of God" ... He'll those types of quotes still get used today by rabidly racist groups in the US. To be fair I am not blaming racism or homophobia on the religion. But I will say that without books like the Bible or the Qu'ran there is less of a foothold to be gained since you don't have "the word of God" on your side.
In WoT world they don't have this and most nationalities seemed to be fairly racially non-diverse. It's rare to find a cairheinin that isn't short with dark hair or a Saldaean who doesn't have a bold nose etc ... Sure there is a bit of diversity, but it tends to follow national lines.