Thomas, 37, an investment banker who considers himself straight, has had sexual encounters with three men.
And though in some cases this may just be denial, many say their interest in men comes from their frustration in the role limitations of straight sex. Such men maintain that they are not gay or even bisexual, just sexually progressive. Those who experiment tend to do it covertly, and often stop short of intercourse. From the bisexual plotline in Alexander and the hot gardener on Desperate Housewives to those shaved-chest guys on the covers of men’s-fitness mags, men are inundated with homoerotic imagery these days, and not all of them are turning away. Gay experimentation for straight men is becoming more popular, too, even if you don’t see it in a dark corner at Vento. The L Word is a mainstream hit, and if you go to any nightclub around three in the morning, you’ll see two pink-cheeked girls in a banquette, sucking face, often as their boyfriends watch. Same-sex experimentation among straight women is trendier than ponchos these days.
