this post was submitted on 03 Sep 2024
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I've often pondered about how Vulcans view gender and sexuality.

I think pre-Surak/logic, they may have demonstrated homophobia and transphobia, but modern Vulcan Society would probably be chill with it under the reasoning that discrimination would reduce a person's efficacy as a functional member of Vulcan Society. For instance, given a choice between allowing a person to contribute verses driving them to the brink of suicide, Vulcans would probably tend to lean towards the first option.

There could very well still be stigma (Vulcans are far from a perfect society; some may have views that it is illogical to have a romantic relationship without a child), but it's dampened by the logic from the previous paragraph.

There's also the Pon Farr to keep in mind. Not only would it be hard to fight a person in the Ponn Farr, but also you'd literally be killing them by trying to prevent expression of their orientation.

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[–] [email protected] -4 points 2 months ago (5 children)

Ice cold logic.

Reproductive organs are for reproducing and reproducing only. If you have a penis you’re a male of the species, if you have a vagina you’re a female of the species. Anything else is a genetic abnormality that should be fixed.

There’s no room for emotion, no room to feel like you’re in the wrong body or to identify as something other than what you physically present. This social weight is compounded in the Kelvin timeline where there are so few Vulcans left they must mate full-time just to prevent extinction.

I think it would be an interesting story to have a half Vulcan, half Human struggle with dysphoric emotions boiling beneath their taught logical exterior, or a full Vulcan that doesn’t understand why they have no desire (or actual regret) to Pon Farr with their mate.

But don’t take existing characters and rough them up because you’re bored with them. Don’t take Spock and turn him into a depressed, bearded neurodivergent with 20 siblings. Make new characters that I can care just as much about. Even in the sterile Vulcan society there is opportunity to tell very human, very emotion-driven stories about one’s own identity.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Despite the storytelling potential, I’d think that the Pon Farr would put an automatic limit on any homophobia the Vulcans have, as once again, denying someone would have lethal consequences.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

I don’t recall mentioning homophobia.

I also disagree that the inherent disregard of “illogical” alternative relationships or identities would be rooted in hate. “Hate is illogical.”

Though the idea that there is a Vulcan somewhere who is harboring hateful emotions towards Vulcans who identify that way would be yet another potential story to tell. Something akin to the Enterprise episode Fusion.

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