Eric McCormack and Debra Messing posing as Will and his 'fag-hag' Grace

Every gay man should have one. Every straight woman should be one.

The latest cultural trend to thrust itself upon the streets of London is the ‘fag-hag’. The term has two meanings. One refers to the unsuspecting female celebrities caught on camera, chain smoking, but the most recent interpretation describes the relationship between a homosexual man and a straight woman.

Television shows such as Channel Four’s ‘Will and Grace’ has recently popularised the fag-hag phenomenon and dragged it into the 21st Century. Although not an entirely original concept, the term has expanded and taken on multiple meanings. These vary from; women who merely enjoy the company of ‘gay’ men. Those who fall in love with their gay best friend and some woman who try and covert their man into being straight. Fag-hags have even gone on to marry their gay best friend and enjoyed a long and successful relationship.

There is also the flip side of this relationship – the women who have the best of both worlds; a loving husband and a gay friend to confide in.

One person who certainly identifies with this is Emma Bradford, a 33 year old teacher, from Dulwich and her gay best friend Phil Rigs, a teacher from Fulham. Emma remembers several occasions of this happening with her husband and say, “I love being a fag-hag. I’ve been one for a while now with being married and having a gay best friend, I get the best of both worlds. Phil is great listener. We go shopping together, he supports and understands me.”

Of Emma, Phil says, “its great having a fag-hag. We get on really well and are not threatened by one another. For me it’s the perfect friendship”. Together they go to straight and gay bars within London.

Phil said: “people in gay bars are so much friendlier and open. They love it that I have a fag hag”.

Debra Messing plays Grace Adler

For many this next revelation may come as a shock: According to a book entitled, ‘Straight Women and Gay Men’-by John Malone, it states that 20% of gay men have been married at least once and some have even gone on to marry their fag hags. One man who has done this is 41 year old, nightclub owner, Nicky Valan who confessed “I married my fag-hag. At the time is seemed like the most natural thing to do. We get on so well. We have different sexual partners, but it works for us”.

Apart from perhaps the emotional side of fag-hag relationships come the social advantages.

Friday and Saturday nights at the G-A-Y Bar, Old Compton Road is teaming with men who prefer men, indulging in quiet conversation or dancing away to ‘cheesy’ Kylie and Madonna numbers. Strutting proudly her feminine ‘fag-hag’ charms, wowing the gay fraternity with her sensual dance moves is Michelle Waterford. Michelle, 21, a student from Islington who loves and thrives on her fag-hag endorsement and lifestyle. “Gay men are so friendly and well mannered. Straight guys can be so rude, arrogant and pretty rough”.

Fellow fag-hag Mirjana Stanic, a 25 year old student from Serbia-Montenegro also has much praise for her best friend and states, “I don’t mind being called a fag-hag. When other gay men know I’m one they always ask me to be theirs as well”.