I think its more how he acts. Nancy boy is a good description. There are some -really- effiminate depictions of Cloud and Sephiroth out there. But they're both capable of ripping your face off if they wanted. Doesn't really help the case since they're considered homoerotic a lot anyway. But still. They can be seen as a threat. Vaan is mostly just seen as a joke. But I think people's bigger problem is that audiences are just getting tired of pretty boys these days. Despite the fact that sprites didn't do a character design much justice. So if you take into account the art on how a character is supposed to look. We've been dealing with pretty boys since like NES. Its getting old. And I think the hate is more of a lashing out. The trend is way old and time to go

And I seem to recall playing an RPG with a gay guy in it. Was it Enchanted Arms? Not sure