"Aye and Gomorrah," by Samuel R. Delany, explores themes of perversion, transgender, sexual identity, and more. Throughout the narrative we see the story's protagonist, a genderless "Spacer," receive harsh or even perverse treatment simply due to his lack of sexuality. These genderless Spacers are the story's physical representation of gender neutral peoples, uncertain of their own sexual identity, something the author and his wife were both sympathetic with during the story's conceptualization. While the story is science fiction, its focus is on the ideals behind the flashy spaceships and futuristic environment.
The spacers are neutered prior to puberty so as to avoid dangerous spacial radiation and such, but the focus of the story is how this affects their public or even private relations. Similar to the tribulations faced by an unfortunate amount of homosexual or transgender populous, the spacers of this story are subject to constant derogatory slander by much of the public. Even on the streets people will point and whisper about the "genderless freaks," an offensive term that is often used to harshly describe transgender peoples as well. This story is meant to convey morals of not just equality, but establishing ones self above the petty rumors and quick-to-judge offenders of the world around us; and to not be ashamed of being who you are regardless of what people may assume about you. Only you deserve to tell you whether to, how to, or why to establish a sexual identity.
The spacers are neutered prior to puberty so as to avoid dangerous spacial radiation and such, but the focus of the story is how this affects their public or even private relations. Similar to the tribulations faced by an unfortunate amount of homosexual or transgender populous, the spacers of this story are subject to constant derogatory slander by much of the public. Even on the streets people will point and whisper about the "genderless freaks," an offensive term that is often used to harshly describe transgender peoples as well. This story is meant to convey morals of not just equality, but establishing ones self above the petty rumors and quick-to-judge offenders of the world around us; and to not be ashamed of being who you are regardless of what people may assume about you. Only you deserve to tell you whether to, how to, or why to establish a sexual identity.
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