Tanis Is Gay: The Facts

By Sir Matt Potter

Well, perhaps "gay" is a bit too strong a word, but Tanis is bisexual certainly. His love for Laurana is more than matched by his love for Sturm. Allow me to take you on a tour of the Chronicles series and point out where Tanis' homosexual feelings come to the fore.

At first, one could say that Tanis' feelings towards Sturm strech to nothing more than friendship. Sure, their reunion in the inn is a little over-enthusiastic, and Tanis is often the only one to fear for Sturm's safety in many situations. Surely this is just friendship?

My suspicions were first aroused when Tanis watched the clerics from the undergrowth. I quote: "Unusually wide belts, Tanis noticed, with strange bulges beneath them." Would a heterosexual man take quite such an interest in the equipment beneath another man's robes?

But didn't Tanis love Kitiara? Yes he did, but look at it this way: Kit was the first woman to be really attracted to Tanis after he left his elven homeland. We also know that Kit is physically a lot like a man, and that Tanis at that point hated the elves, so it is surely feasable that Tanis thought, "Well, she's not an elf, she looks a bit like a man...Hey, this could work!"

Something Kit says is also important. Of Tanis and Sturm's relationship, she remarks: "One friendship I could never understand." Well, they do say that opposites attract...In the letter Tanis leaves for Kit, he says, "I think of Sturm, Laurana and the others, but Sturm the foremost." He seems to care more about Surm than the two women he supposedly loves.

Alhanna is another important character. Considering that she is supposed to be more beautiful than even Laurana, Tanis shows very little emotion upon seeing her beauty. I think it's also interesting that Alhanna hates Tanis—until Sturm leaves. Perhaps she sees Tanis as a rival for Sturm's love?

Here endeth the lesson. I have many more examples of Tanis' behaviour, but if I posted them all then usenet would crash under the sheer weight of all the info. As always, I welcome all views and criticisms, however harsh. Just make sure you send them to the NG and not to my e-mail address...

"Tanis Is Gay: The Facts" © Sir Matt Potter