Absolutely not supported by the EOE sequence. In fact the EOE sequence debunks it:
Folds of flesh surrounding Unit 01’s Core. Notice the flesh looks just like a vulva.
And this [the core] is of course the metaophorical vagina.
Penetration...
Orgasmic bliss. The drafts make the core-vaginal symbolism very clear:
, I feels that the "Ho Yay" was largely toned down in NTE.
Look at the movie posters (and the red string of fate) than try to argue for that again.
I think saying Shinji is gay and they are lovers is simplifying the relationship a lot.
They are blatantly portrayed as lovers in the official posters and calendar.
Her uncle Francesco Sforza arranged for her marriage to Federico da Montefeltro, who was much older than her. The wedding took place on 8 February 1460, when Battista was thirteen years old, and she acted as regent during her husband’s absences from Urbino.
Their marriage was a happy one. They were described by a contemporary, Baldi, as “two souls in one body”.
Battista fell ill three months after their seventh child, and died in July 1472. After the death of Battista, Federico spent much of his time in the magnificent palace in Urbino.
Maeda he tried to imitate Francesca’s style by giving Shinji and Kaworu squashed profiles. Look at the jawlines, he drew them exactly like Battista and Federico. Notice Shinji's strong outline.
The landscape background and profile portraits are all classic Pre Renaissance conventions. Best of all, anyone back then would’ve known that these two people were married because they’re facing each other. Sadamoto and Anno use Tanabata references that are easily recognizable to any Japanese person. And then you get Maeda who likes to use historical imagery to symbolize they’re soul mates.
Anno said the posters were fundamental to the movies. The 3.0 poster features Tanabata, "the meeting of the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi, represented by the stars Vega and Altair… Star-crossed lovers separated by the Milky Way.":
Orihime and Hikoboshi loved each other intensely, but were only allowed to be together once a year. Not only that, but Shinji's and Misato's VAs confirmed in a 1997 interview that Kaworu was Shinji's Hikoboshi.
Notice also the color of Shinji's earbuds. They’ve always been black throughout the franchise but for this poster only, they’re red at the end and extend to Kaworu. {The red string of fate}. The act of sharing earbuds alone is something that couples do in Japan. So even people that are unfamiliar with the series think that they’re together because they’re sharing the same set.
there is nothing in the show or movies that prove it beyond a reasonable doubt
There is proof that Kaworu is being billed as Shinji's love interest, with Shinji and Misato's VAs even confirmed and hinting to it in 1997. As Anno said, Satsukawa-san is right on the mark when it comes to homoeroticism.
Isn't the Kawrou character something akin to Jesus of Nazareth? Providing unconditional
love & acceptances towards Shinji. While sacrificing himself so that he can continue on living.
Way to ignore all the blatant romantic soulmate symbolism with the posters in Q.