They say: ‘Because straight women’s relationships with straight men and other straight women are often tainted by deceptive motives related to mating interest or competition, respectively, we predicted that straight women would perceive mating-relevant information provided by a gay male to be more trustworthy than similar advice provided by a straight male or straight female.’

Similarly, ‘the sexual interest and competitive motives that may taint gay men’s friendships with each other are notably absent from their relationships with straight women’, said Scientific American, reporting the study.