However, what I'm pondering is whether or not having Naruto and Sasuke being gay for each other would change some children's perceptions about homosexuals. Would it make them more accepting? Would they start to see gay people as human beings who deserves the same rights everyone else does?
Yes. Absolutely.
This isn't just my opinion, but SCIENCE! says so.
I wrote one of my undergraduate capstone papers on this very topic, actually - how media representations of gay and lesbian characters influence children's beliefs and attitudes toward homosexuality. Long story short, there is a LOT of very tight research devoted to this topic, and in general, any time kids are exposed to heroic/good characters who also happen to be gay, it has an enormously positive influence on their acceptance of homosexuality, even when their parents and/or religions teach them otherwise.
no subject
Yes. Absolutely.
This isn't just my opinion, but SCIENCE! says so.
I wrote one of my undergraduate capstone papers on this very topic, actually - how media representations of gay and lesbian characters influence children's beliefs and attitudes toward homosexuality. Long story short, there is a LOT of very tight research devoted to this topic, and in general, any time kids are exposed to heroic/good characters who also happen to be gay, it has an enormously positive influence on their acceptance of homosexuality, even when their parents and/or religions teach them otherwise.