This Was Too Good A Question To Answer Anonymously

[redbrunja]

Okay, over on the Naruto what-if meme someone asked the question, "What if Kishi actually decided to make Sasuke and Naruto a couple at the end of the manga? Would fandom explode? How would this be seen by different cultures/the media (Naruto is a fairly popular manga)? Would this affect the way kids veiw gay couples at all?"

My instinctive thought was 'they wouldn't get it.' I think a lot of the casual, non fandom readers of Naruto would be REALLY confused and I would bet money on the American and Japanese parents flipping the fuck out.

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?

You thoughts, flist?

Comments

[rabidline.livejournal.com]

I doubt that it will create a huge positive feedback (sorry, just not too optimistic) but I think that it would raise acceptance and respect in children for homosexuals.

Based on personal experience: I got exposed to CLAMP early on. Their work, although most of them are subtext- do contain official same-sex couples; no outright kisses, but it's pretty much there and can't be denied. I got used to the concept that people can have romantic relationships with other people in the same gender, and it's not wrong, per se.

I'm saying this because my religion specifically forbid same-sex relationships, and in my country the concept is still frowned upon- respect and acceptance for gay people are very low. But I guess- you can't help it- if it's love, it is. Maybe it's not my way of life, but there are others who chose it, it's their right and it doesn't make them any less humans than straight people are.

Sorry I can't help much :)

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

I'm really glad that Clamp was such a formative author for you.

Your comment was very helpful.