Amigo Wrote:That's because you're gay. Gay men and straight women can be friends. But straight men and straight women can't be friends.
(I hope I don't sound rude, coz I'm not trying to be rude...)
I am sorry, Dove, but I don't think orientation has anything to do with whether or not two people of opposite gender can be friends. I think it is a willingness on the part of both parties. I know quite a few straight men who have many platonic female friends. I also know gay men who can't stand being around most women. Broad generalizations based on stereotype are dangerous. (Of course, the initial question is a broad generalization, to begin with, but that is irrelevant.) All in all, I have to say that I don't see any problem with cross-gender platonic relationships.
When there is a problem with male/female friendships, it is due to sexual tension. This kind of tension can happen in gay-straight relationships, as well as, straight-straight relationships. But, the promising part about this is, we are thinking, rational creatures. We can (usually) suppress our sexual tensions, if we must.
To say that a man and a woman cannot have a platonic relationship is as ridiculous as saying two gay men or two lesbians cannot have a platonic relationship. We can have platonic relationships with anyone, even if the chemistry is there for one of us.
In the past, I have felt the pain of unrequited love for my friends. I have even told a couple. I have been lucky that it did not hurt our relationships, but rather, it made the relationships stronger.