Guts gay

Snoken stated:

However, did Guts reciprocate those romantic feelings? I'm rather inept at interpreting matters of the heart. I've also seen a multitude of individuals online asserting that Guts is bisexual and had affections for Griffith.

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That notion finds no support within the manga. Guts' sentiments toward Griffith are unequivocally communicated throughout the Golden Age arc, portrayed as someone he deeply reveres, even idolizes to a degree, and with whom he forges a strong companionship. Simultaneously, he gradually forms a deeper connection with Casca, eventually culminating in a true romance blossoming between them. You know, as a general principle, possessing close comrades of the same gender doesn't automatically signify being gay or bi. And, you genuinely shouldn't depend on the pronouncements of anonymous internet users to try to comprehend the narrative.

Snoken said:

The way Griffith behaved towards Guts was as if he were infatuated with him.

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This particular declaration warrants more thorough examination compared to the one preceding it. Griffith's sentiments towards Guts remain nebulous, and that's intentional. I believe reducing it to "he must have been enamored with him" is an oversimplification, and it's doing you a disservice concerning your understanding of the character.

From Kentarou Miura's interviews, we learn their relationship drew inspiration from his bond with his closest friend in high school. It represented a blend of antagonism and camaraderie. Obviously, it is heightened and dramatized within the manga, and the narrative itself is dissimilar, but my point is that at its very core was that: close friendship and rivalry.

Within the narrative, Griffith's impetus for desiring Guts within his mercenary company is remarkably pragmatic from the outset: he's an extraordinary combatant. Griffith acknowledges this, and endeavors to ensure Guts fights on his behalf. He becomes considerably reliant upon him, to such an extent that, in the end, he'd sooner terminate his life than relinquish his hold. In that sense, Guts functioned as the ace up his sleeve, concurrently aiding him psychologically as he sought to achieve the impossible: ascending from obscurity to a king. That's partially why their second duel (and his defeat) impacted him so significantly, as Casca elucidates to Guts at the waterfall.

The pair also develop a profound bond, and that can be observed as an exception in Griffith's personal philosophy. As he conveys to Charlotte at the fountain, he doesn't perceive his mercenaries as his friends, because a genuine friend must be his equal. It goes without saying, this profoundly influences Guts, and is what compels him to depart the band later on. Nevertheless, I believe it's demonstrated Griffith did regard Guts as a friend, irrespective of his statements, and Guts' autonomy rendered Griffith see him as a rival as well.

Both aspects are exemplified, for instance, when Griffith assigns Guts with "dirty work" that he wouldn't want the rest of his forces to be cognizant of, and subsequently (following the queen's demise) inquires whether his opinion of him has diminished as a consequence. They can also explicate instances where Griffith's conduct is characterized as "unreasonable" by the characters, akin to when he personally went to rescue Guts. It's genuinely not shocking at all that he'd hasten to save his friend (and preeminent soldier). The same holds true for Griffith's deranged state of mind following his year of torture. He (erroneously) blames Guts for what happened to him yet can't quite bring himself to harbor hatred, instead fixating upon him.

He describes the amalgamation of emotions he experiences in volume ten: "hatred, friendship, jealousy, emptiness, frustration, affection, sorrow, pain, hunger..." We witness them in play during and after the rescue, where he appears to be uncertain about his own feelings at times (he's partly unhinged at that stage). He endeavors to strangle him, is envious that he united with Casca (somebody he never held romantic affection for), and yet he tries to prevent his fall when the hand rises during the Eclipse. So it's all a conundrum, but you'll notice there's no "love" included there. And, as one would expect, Griffith never exhibits any romantic proclivities towards Guts when they're together (physical or emotional).

So, why the ambiguity then? It's truly all encompassed within unvoiced moments. The way he informs him that he'll make him his (which prompts Guts to ask if he's gay, and Griffith to reveal embarrassment), the jealousy Casca feels towards him, the way he becomes increasingly reliant on him, takes gambles for him, and ultimately his obsession with him after the year of torture, and what he says when he sacrifices the Band of the Falcon: "only you made me forget my dream". All this constructs a narrative where a reader may pose the question "was it simply a remarkably powerful mix of camaraderie and rivalry, or was there more there?"

I believe the story and character function exceedingly well with that interpretation, that it represented the type of once-in-a-lifetime friendship some individuals possess, combined with the type of rivalry that's been known to consume men entirely. But I also think Miura, partly through his shoujo manga influences, deliberately crafted it ambiguously enough that one can ponder if there wasn't yet another kind of feeling interwoven into the equation. One of a romantic nature, even if not sexual. Nevertheless, do remember that even if you interpret it as such, it doesn't invalidate the rest. Lastly, I hold that it's essential to remember that whilst Guts occupied a special position among his men, Griffith did sacrifice the entire band, which I believe speaks volumes about how he actually felt towards everyone, in the end.