Love knows no bounds
In my reasoning, if Toreadors are the Kindred most open to love and beauty, and if a Toreador lives a century or two, it is rather likely that the Toreador will become, for all intents and purposes, bisexual (if she/he was not already). While not meaning to rely on the old "art fag" stereotype, it does seem perfectly natural that an experienced creature who has a love of beauty and a tendency towards emotional attachments would realize that petty mortal distinctions of male and female, straight and gay, are completely irrelevant in matters of art. Beauty is beauty and can be loved regardless of gender or sexual orientation.
This may seem a little obvious to some, but it is a theme that can be explored for dramatic effect. It is a potential source of conflict for characters of strict religious background, younger characters, some non-Toreadors, and even some players and storytellers. Fluid sexuality is by no means exclusively Toreador, it's just an issue that seems more likely to arise with this clan of artists and art lovers.
By being open to bisexuality, Toreador characters are open to more story lines and plot complications. Not only are the number of possible love interests doubled, but the fluidity of Toreador attractions opens them up to multiple lovers, jealousies, and rivalries. Talk about bizarre love triangles!
Toreador appreciation of beauty might also open them to a rejection of traditional gender definitions and rigidity. If both male and female are seen as equally beautiful and not mutually exclusive, then it might be just as beautiful when the distinctions between genders blur. Gender play can range from mocking drag acts to elegant androgyny, but no matter the extremes, all manner of gender play simply questions how and why must biology determine every facet of existence.
When a human becomes a vampire, her biology is so dramatically changed that traditional biological gender may seem irrelevant. After all, the Embrace robs a person of her sexual functioning and renders genitalia all but useless. As mortals, many people have a strong identification between their biological gender and their sense of self as a "man" or a "woman." For vampires, the biological distinction is blurred, if not entirely erased, though many vampires refuse to acknowledge it to themselves. Toreadors, since they prize artistic individuality, can be more open to acknowledging what the majority may fear or distrust. Especially as a Toreador ages and grows farther and farther from her mortal self, she may forget about gender roles and differences entirely.
Exploring alternative sexuality and gender in storytelling games can be an enjoyable, even liberating, experience. Because it is "only" a game, you can do things that you may have no desire to do in real life, and you can explore sides of your own self that normally remain hidden. Of course, this issue should be treated with sensitivity by both players and storytellers. The Wraith sourcebook, Love Beyond Death, has excellent guidelines for dealing with these potentially touchy subjects, and I highly recommend a read-through for any storyteller or player who wants to include love, sex, and gender experimentations in her game.
-- By Trystan L. Bass
Footnote:
While the act of love is physically possible for a vampire of either sex, the associated impulses, drives, and responses have died along with the flesh. ... By effort of will we may go through the motions, forcing blood to the relevant areas in the same way as healing a wound, but that is all. The ecstasy of the Kiss replaces all such needs within us. Blood is the only object of our desire.
--prelude, Vampire: The Masquerade1
1. Vampire: The Masquerade, second edition, by Mark Rein-Hagen, page 11.
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