Good Sci-fi challenge people's convictions by presenting a known problem or dilemma in a new context. By projecting it onto something new, people get the possibility to rethink their old beliefs.
The Paul and Hugh characters are an excellent example of this done well, presented as a couple, being individuals that need to work to get their relationship to work. Just like anyone else. They just happen to be gay. And nobody gives a rat's ass about it because it's a normal part of the future (as it should, in most civilized places, it already is).
Gay people have fought for years to be accepted. And there is still a lot left before things are anywhere close to equal. Gender fluidity is a newer concept (at least in the public eye). But historically, we are talking about a change in perception that happened over decades, not centuries.
If two gay men, born hundreds of years in the future, don't get pronouns. And have to be taught them as if they were 2010ish straight men. how slow would development have had to have been? In their mission to push gender fluidity, the writer did a sloppy job. Sadly this is a recurring theme in this series.
The Paul and Hugh characters are an excellent example of this done well, presented as a couple, being individuals that need to work to get their relationship to work. Just like anyone else. They just happen to be gay. And nobody gives a rat's ass about it because it's a normal part of the future (as it should, in most civilized places, it already is).
Gay people have fought for years to be accepted. And there is still a lot left before things are anywhere close to equal. Gender fluidity is a newer concept (at least in the public eye). But historically, we are talking about a change in perception that happened over decades, not centuries.
If two gay men, born hundreds of years in the future, don't get pronouns. And have to be taught them as if they were 2010ish straight men. how slow would development have had to have been? In their mission to push gender fluidity, the writer did a sloppy job. Sadly this is a recurring theme in this series.