Can a member of Platonic Life Partners be gay?

Hello. I tried to do a search to see if there was already a thread for this, but I didn't find anything.

So, my question is about Platonic Life-Partners. The former name of the trope, The Straight Will And Grace suggests as much, and perhaps the new one does to, if it references Heterosexual Life-Partners.

I wondered, because I'm familiar with examples where two characters are very close (closer even than with their romantic partners), and one is straight and the other gay. For example, in Two Serpents Rise, the main character Caleb has a very close, long-running friendship with Teo (who is female), and both are confidants to the other and always there for each other in difficult situations. Caleb is implied to be something of a womanizer and Teo frequently changes girlfriends.

Perhaps relevant to the topic, the author's comments suggest that he made Teo a lesbian so she and Caleb could be best friends without sexual tension being an issue.

edited 17th Nov '14 7:47:57 PM by Hodor

I think they have to be of compatible orientations, at least. If they're not, they're not going to end up as a couple unless one or both of them changes orientation.

Platonic just means a non-sexual love, so yes one of them can be gay.

Another Duck, Platonic has nothing to do with ending up as a couple.

edited 19th Nov '14 12:22:41 AM by Batman39

Didn't say that.

"If they're not, they're not going to end up as a couple unless one or both of them changes orientation."

Yes, you did. Again, platonic has nothing to do with being a couple or ending up as a couple.

I haven't a clue what you're on about.