On the contrary, I think it’s totally screwed up and an obvious indicator of self-loathing. It made me feel more versatile, like I could pass for “straight” and inhabit a heterosexual world more seamlessly than my other “gayer” friends. In the past, I’ve sought out the company of straight men because, in a way, I feel like it validated my masculinity. It’s something that is fetishized and yearned for on both sides.
Behind every great gay man, there’s a real desire to have an awesome straight dude (and I don’t mean sexually). For many gay men, having a close straight male friend is akin to capturing the holy grail.