On the iPhone 5 and up, if I clear a message notification from my lock screen will it appear as read to the person who texted me?

On the iPhone 5 and up, if I clear a message notification from my lock screen will it appear as read to the person who texted me?

No

No it doesn't.

You can always go to settings > Messages and disable send read receipts. That way it won't ever say read, even when you you're in the app and have actually read it.