It's such a paradox. It's strange how fans in fandoms literally elevate controversial pairings to canon, while ignoring others, calling them impossible.
It's highly illogical and, in fact, mega-absurd. The favorite argument of those who are negative about the Spock/McCoy pairing usually revolves around their disagreements and what a villain McCoy is for treating Spock poorly. Yet these people completely ignore Spock and McCoy's friendship, their attempts to sacrifice themselves for each other, and their mutual understanding on many issues.
However, I can name dozens of reasons why Johnlock, Destiel, Geraskier, Stony, and especially Merthur are problematic pairings. Dean has literally bullied Cas, beat him, and used him for his own ends more than once; John has insulted Sherlock, pointed out his uniqueness as a flaw, beat him, and used him; Geralt humiliates and beats Jaskier whenever he wants; Tony and Steve argue about everything and have hit each other more than once. And I'm probably not going to mention Arthur, who bullies Merlin most of the time, humiliates him, and doesn't consider him his intellectual equal. Actually, I won't. It's a blatant power imbalance, when Merlin can't respond in kind to Arthur because he'll simply be executed for it.
And yet, despite all this, they are friends. And I don't dispute their chemistry. However, they remain a problematic and controversial couple. And they are no more canon than Spones, which has existed for 60 years. Yes, that's right, 60 years. Because Spock and McCoy were talked about before Spirk existed, and it was the creators of Star Trek who talked about it. And fans, too, even those who weren't shippers. Spock and McCoy were called nothing less than "beloved nemesis" before Spirk even existed.
And yes, regarding Spirk. Many will now say that Spock and Kirk are t'hy'la, arguing that Roddenberry used that word to describe their relationship. However, he did so after fans wanted Spirk, and he also spelled the word ambiguously. "T'hy'la" means friend, brother, or lover. And definitely not all three. If you're saying a brother can be a lover, then Wincest could also be canon, but it doesn't work that way.
We also all know that Roddenberry's letters exist discussing Kirk and Spock, whom he clearly didn't intend to be so close. He did this during filming to stop Shatner and Nimoy from squabbling over screen time and popularity. He clearly didn't intend for Spock and Kirk to be lovers, but when fans paired them together, he wasn't opposed to it because it didn't affect the canon at the time, but it did affect the show's popularity. However, when asked about Spirk, he once replied that they didn't intend them that way. He also added that they had hinted at gays in the show. Which gays was he referring to, I wonder? Perhaps a certain couple bickering like an old married couple. About two men whom Roddenberry conceived as yin and yang, emotions and logic that couldn't exist without each other. Men who, despite arguments and disagreements, were always loyal friends and cared for each other.
I'm not saying Spirk can't exist or shouldn't. But I firmly declare that Spones is equal to all of these couples I've listed and others I haven't mentioned here. And I declare that Spones, with all his sixty years of baggage, lays claim to canon.
In honor of Pride Month, I decided to write this message. Because, when else can you ask people not to ignore, to make them see, if not during this time of visibility?
Let this day be Spones Visibility Day, if you will.
[Please forgive me if there are any mistakes or incorrect turns of phrase, I don’t speak English and use a translator]
