Representing Diversity

I grew up watching Star Trek. Although I didn't realize it in those days, I was nevertheless influenced by Gene Roddenberry's representations of diversity. As most people are aware, the first interracial kiss happened on Star Trek, because as a sci-fi show, it could get such shocking behavior past the censors of the time. Likewise, I remember well an episode (I don't remember the name) where two characters are chasing each other around the universe, one trying to kill the other. They are half black and half white. When the crew of the Enterprise asks the one why he trying to kill the other, the alien replies that the one he's chasing is an inferior being and his kind should be exterminated. The crew express their disbelief, because to them, the two aliens look alike. Then the alien played by Frank Gorshin (I don't remember the episode, but I remember the actor) explains that they are black and white on opposite sides, expressing disbelief that the others don't see the difference.
As I'm writing this trilogy, I find myself talking about how different people can be, including the gods of the different countries in my made-up world. In the case of Jewels and Gods, as in our own world, each country has a slightly different point of view on life. Two of the countries have evil gods in power, which the Jewel Keepers are to quell in fulfillment of their quest.
In today's writing, Marleigh - the newest Jewel Keeper - is shocked about how the others talk about their gods. She's from a small town and has never been anywhere in the world. Her god, Petryk, is somewhere between evil and good. He's considered good now. But a generation earlier he had banned magic from his country, Pellent, and in the process, had created a prejudice against mages and magic that still lingers. Marleigh, as the only mage in her small town, felt that prejudice. But she never questioned it.
Now that she's joined the quest, however, she's getting a different perspective. The Haldovan mages (from the country of Haldova) treat their goddess, Miska, with less reverence. Not because they don't love her and believe in her, but because she's not perfect - no god is in my world. This prompts a theological discussion during which Marleigh's eyes are opened to the possibility that other gods and other peoples are still good, even if they think differently than she does.
This representing of diversity - of ideas, of gods, of peoples - is something I've made a common thread in my books. There are all kinds of people of all different shades of color, none of which are any better or worse than any of the others. In my fantasy books, people love who they love - without prejudice for men loving men, women loving men, or women loving women. People are just people. The only evil is not respecting differences.
I had a reviewer of Best Meet-Cute Ever say I seemed to be trying to hit all the "woke" hot buttons in that book, which has stories about coming out and dealing with racial prejudice. If he or she had read any of my other books, they would have realized that I'm not trying to hit hot buttons. I'm trying to normalize diversity.
In my fantasy books, it's easier to make diversity "not a thing". People like Marleigh meet people who aren't like they are, and they wonder at the differences. But ultimately, unless a god or a person is evil, all differences are accepted. As they should be.