She loves you.. she loves you not...?

With gay men being less threatening, more in touch with their emotional side, and let's face it - just so damn attractive, it's hard for any woman to resist. No wonder every straight woman wants a gay best friend. But sometimes their expectations heighten, and the best-friendship is just so good (certainly much better than with most of their potential straight boyfriends) that the attachment becomes more than platonic. But how do you know when this is going to happen to you and your girlfriend/s? Sometimes you'll find there's more than one involved and then it gets downright scary as they compete for you - even though , technically, you're not even in their market. What's more scary is when you have a boyfriend already - and they're shoehorning into his position.

Usually by the time you're aware of it - the problem is way past any prevention strategy.

So what are the tell tale signs?

You get calls, texts and emails from them more than from your boyfriends.

They know more about where you're going and what you're doing than anybody else.

They automatically sit in the front seat if your car when you're also picking up your boyfriend.

Birthday and Christmas gifts are more extravagant than anyone elses.

They don't have any boyfriends any more because "they don't understand me like you do".

How do you avert the clear and present danger?

Hammering the point that you're gay and they're a woman will just make them cry.

Focussing on the fact that they're missing out on sex might work for a man, and some women, so it's worth a try, but don't expect them to stop the wedding plans with just that.

Finding a true potential boyfriend is probably the best thing you can do for them. It will take an army of men, and a selection process that makes getting work at Macquarie Bank look easy, but it will be worth it for both of you in the end. (And think of all the men you might find who just haven't found the right girl because they were looking for someone more like.... you) - though these are NOT the men you should talk about with your dependent girlfriend - or despair may be yours to share.

Have you been in such a relationship? Take the new online poll.

You gotta love 'em - just not too much...