Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

I like it when homosexuality is not addressed as if it was a central plot point to the story, focusing heavily on the relationship is what marks it as 'abnormal' within the setting's universe, the issue I have with Warhammer 40k is simple:
The Imperium of Man is a fanatical cult....

Fanatical cults are not the best environment for encouraging individual rights, a vital factor if there is going to be any sort of open sexual rights.

 Buttery Commissar wrote:

 damattybear wrote:
I think a lot of it would depend on the planet of course. But for the most part I honestly think the Imperium would probably find it unacceptable. I'd think a lot of parts of the Imperium are in a constant state of war. Resources are always required. To pursue your own pleasures while you could be procreating for the Emperor... There's no time to fondle each other when there's an Imperium to run. Of course it still happens but I would think it's generally frowned upon if not outright forbidden.

Gay uh.. "little soldiers" don't swim in circles, fella.
In well organised parades, maybe.

But if we're talking about birthrates being such an issue, it's more than likely ways in which genetic material are collected and implemented way more efficiently than partnering up. I'm sucking the romance out, because if it's that fething crucial (ha), they're not going to leave it to chance in those instances.

I'm not pushing for this to be a thing, I'm well of the opinon that it varies from planet to planet.
Space is big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind- bogglingly big it is.
There will be worlds where homosexuality gets you shot. There will be worlds where not knowing the correct lyrics to Ode to Yarrick gets you shot. There will be worlds where nobody bats an eyelid at anything.

I didn't think of it like that, great point. They've got way more effecient ways of creating soldiers I'm sure. I just don't see it as being broadly accepted across the Imperium, if it even matters at all.

The Imperium is much more like North Korea than London. Communist armies are famous for indoctrination, celibacy, and repressed feelings (sexual or otherwise). At least, at work or leisure. Somehow, they do manage to reproduce. There seems to be no shortage of humans. The Imperium would have a wild diversity of cultures. But, in devotion to the Emperor, the IG does not. It's not inconceivable that the Marine's 19 implanted organs and extensive hormonal therapy simply removes or overrides their sex drive. They have no examples of breeding. They are Warrior Monks. Even Chaos Marines seem asexual. The SoB's background is one of repression and devotion. Their sexuality is subsumed to their duty. The question of sexuality could be applied to other species, Tyranids, Eldar, Tau, etc. GW wisely leaves it alone.

The IG are not universally Cadians. The cultures of the IG are as varied as the cultures of the Imperium. Look at all the various IG Regiments you can/once could buy at the store: Cadians, Vostroyans, Elysians, Tallarn, Tanith, Xenan Free Legions, Last Chancers, Catachans, Mordian Iron Guard, Death Korps... the IG is no more a monoculture than the Imperium is.

Since Dune is/was such a big 40K influence I always saw it like Leto The God-Emperor view on his Fish Speakers.

thekingofkings wrote:
The Emperors Children when freed of all constraints and pushed to excess as followers of slaanesh could only express it through gratuitous violence. as for the sisters and guard, they are merely human and subject to all humanity's range.)

Yeeees, because violently raping innocent men and women isn't sexual at all (see: Fulgrim)

Rape is less a sex-crime as it is a power-crime, but that's for an entirely different topic.

in universe: they do not care at all. not one bit. there is no reason to when you are trying to kill mutants, witches, and xenos.
out of universe: they are your guys, do what you want.