Here's my attempt at an answer:
Taking the hero worship & fan fic out of the equation as I'm not interested in either.
As part of their Syco / ModestMgmt contracts which they signed at 16? 18? years of age with only access to Syco lawyers they signed away their image rights. This is a fact well documented Google-able etc & not exclusive to Syco / 1D.
So, wouldn't matter if they were straight, gay, bi, pan whatever they are presented to the fans & general public in whatever way their record label & mgmt decide will make most money.
This happens across the entertainment industry & is widely recognised. Fact.
With the case of 1D, Harry was given the womaniser image & Louis bit of a party lad pain the arse type thing but still cute.
The debate is whether they are actually gay & in a committed long term relationship with each other.
In my heart of hearts (original question) I believe I've seen & researched enough evidence and witnessed enough evidence of them trying to fight back to convince me they are together.
(And I don't mean slo-mo YouTube videos where it's possible to make anything look like anything)
So my issue is that in this day and age 2016 where I believe people are who they are and love who they love, there are young people still suffering from the abhorrent norms of yesteryear.
And if supporting 1D, believing in them & their love, can not only help them but prevent it happening again & again then that's where I'm at.
Sorry for the long post.