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It seems obvious to me that this episode is supposed to have parallels between changeling identity and gay indentity. If anything can be dug to confirm that, perhaps it should be included in background information.
- First, it's my understanding that there's no offical confirmation of that being the writers' intent, and second, it's a stretch to make that connection. Laas' entire argument is based on Changelings being fundamentally and completely different from "monoforms", which is not in line with how homosexuals would want to be preceived. Nanodrip 03:58, 12 Dec 2005 (UTC)
Moreover, considering that Changelings can be almost anything, it would probably be obvious that they have no native gender whatsoever.
--Ihmhi 20:38, 29 January 2007 (UTC)
In addition I would like to point out what I think about the gender of the humanoid forms the changelings choose. In Odo's case, he has chosen to imitate the bajoran doctor who first studied him, in this case, a male. Odo chooses to use this form in order to continue interacting with his monoform peers. In the case of the 'female changeling', it is my belief that the limited form she takes when appearing to Odo, is adapted to his own stunted shapeshifting capabilities, and is chosen to provide a female counterpart to Odo. She actually keeps this shape even when in the presence of Weyoun and several Jem-Hadar, even though there is no need to keep this specific shape, a form she may in fact, have grown a certain afinity for. It is the form she corrects (glosses over, in a way) to hide the signs of the morphogenic virus. In this sense, she has chosen and kept a certain identity. As for Laas, his long life experience with the Valarans may have forced him into the role of a male, as mate to his Valaran wife/lover. Though he encounters Odo and chief O'Brien as a space-faring creature, he quickly falls back into his recognizable Valaran form, one he is accustomed to. With this form also comes his known persona, easy for the others (in particular the viewer) to recognize.
About changeling gender persona-adaptation and linking. Odo himself seems to prefer a certain privacy (hinting at the vaguely sexual nature of linking) and Kira's own reaction to learning he has linked with Laas is at best uneasy. It may be that Kira is unsure if she should consider it having been cheated on yet at the same time rationalizing that the link is only a form of communication. Her reaction also must have a profound effect on Odo's own view of linking. As for Laas, who seems to greatly enjoy the switching between forms, his view of linking is considerably more casual than Odo's. He is ready to link anywhere at any time, whereas Odo has a more reserved stance.
It is also interesting to note the different behaviours and attitudes of changelings who have lived in environments. Odo, who has lived all his life (30 years?) with humanoids, clings to their gender-defined societal tenets. Laas, on the other hand, only spent a portion of his early life with humanoids and has since then treated the man/woman concept with apparent indifference.
In conclusion, it is easy to see that from the start the changelings have no initial gender, but may be pliant to fitting themselves into the molds of the different societies they enocunter. Following this, there may be a certain tension between two changelings about to link, and this regardless of gender. Social taboos may imprint themselves even on those easily considered to be outsiders.
--Braindance 02:00, 5 February 2007 (UTC)