In other words, because gay men are attracted to their own gender, they’re a “safe bet” for women – at least, from a sociobiological standpoint.Ībout three years ago, I initially tested this theory in a series of experiments that have served as the foundation of my research program on gay-straight relationships. With heterosexual men (who, by definition, are sexually attracted to women), the process is longer – and potentially more fraught – because men may be grappling with their own sexual impulses. Because gay men don’t mate with women – or compete with them for mates – women feel a certain level of comfort with gay men, and the process of forming a close friendship can occur relatively quickly. However, this is precisely the reasoning behind my approach.
(After all, straight women and gay men don’t mate with one another.) A safe betĪt first glance, this explanation may seem quite counterintuitive. Specifically, I believe evolutionary psychology and human mating can help explain why relationships between straight women and gay men tend to flourish.