A fag hag is a slang term for a woman who either associates mostly or exclusively with homosexual men, or is best or good friends to a gay man or men. It originated in gay male culture in the United States and was historically an insult. Some women who associate with gay men object to being called fag hags, while others embrace the term. Men who have similar interpersonal relationships with lesbian women are called dyke tykes; furthermore people who associate with gays, lesbians, and bisexuals may be called "fruit flies" regardless of their sex.

Wikipedia also explains that typically, a fag hag is "frequently stereotyped as lonely or unattractive women, sometimes overweight, who are seeking a substitute for heterosexual relationships, or who are secretly sexually attracted to gay men."

I've got some issues with this definition. First of all, despite what "Will & Grace" would lead you to believe, not all fag hags are secretly in love with their gay male friends. In a patriarchal culture that devalues women, sometimes it's just nice to be around a guy who doesn't want to get in your pants. Plus, gay men will compliment you on your outfit or tell you if you've gotten it entirely wrong. You can't get that from a straight guy. And as a lesbian, I find that most straight guys I know think that because I'm a lesbian, they can tell me how hot some chick is because they think I'll agree. Gross! Also, I have problems with the ugly, overweight stereotype, because I'm fucking fabulous.

Personally, I like Margaret Cho's definition of a fag hag better:

I am fortunate enough to have been a fag hag for most of my life. A fag hag is a woman who prefers the company of gay men. The marriage of two derogatory terms, fag and hag, symbolizing the union of the world's most popular objects of scorn, homosexual and woman, creates a moniker that most of those who wear it find inoffensive, possibly because it smacks of solidarity.

If you're a gay man who hates fag hags, perhaps you should consider this: where would gay men be without the likes of their hags? We're usually the first to know you're gay, we help support you through the coming out process, and we help you refine your sense of style. In those oh-so-awkward stages of the early coming out process, we help boost your confidence and make a nice security blanket for that first trip to the gay bar. Yes, my gay friends, you need us just as much as we need you. Perhaps your aversion to fag hags has come about because there are some women out there who don't know what it means to be a fag hag.

So here are my suggestions for the ladies who don't seem to appreciate their role as a fag hag. It's a very serious job, not to be taken lightly.

1. Don't cock block. Ever! When you're at the gay bar with your friends, your role is to talk up your fag to prospective hotties and then hit the road. Once your fag is engaged with a hottie and/or grinding up on him on the dance floor, make like a banana and hit the road. Enjoy your cocktail, strike up a convo with the nice mullet dyke in the corner, or head outside to bum a ciggy.

2. Don't get offended when your fag chooses ass over hag-ship. For clarification, refer to rule #1. If you've done your job properly, your fag will be getting laid tonight. You should probably plan ahead for your own transportation home. And there will be times that your fag completely flakes on you because he got ass. A case in point: a few years ago at Long Beach Pride, I was supposed to be collecting petition signatures to support marriage equality. I had recruited a few friends to help. When they went out to the Queen Mary for a circuit party the night before the parade, I knew they would flake in the morning. I was right. But I didn't get offended. Don't hate the player or the game, cuz that's just how it is.

3. Step your fashion game up. Part of being a hag is knowing how to dress yourself and how to dress your fag. Ya'll need to look fabulous. That's your job. Remember, insisting on good grooming isn't shallow. It's a fundamental principle we should all live by.

4. Stock up on condoms. Safer sex is good for everyone. And having an extra condom in your purse to help out a friend in need is just thoughtful.

5. Get tested. Remember what I said about safer sex? Lead by example. Get tested on a regular and encourage your fag to do the same. Hell, you could even visit the clinic together and then go out for a latte and/or shopping afterwards.

As for the role of the dyke tyke, every lesbian needs a little male luvin' in her life, even if she is a gold star member. The best dyke tykes I have had pretty much follow the same guidelines that I've offered for fag hags. Instead of condoms, they're familiar with dental dams. And they're not afraid of menstruation. In fact, my favorite dyke tyke has tampons available at his house, just in case he has a female visitor who needs one. Now that's what I call being a good host.

But getting back to the point of language, can we find a better term than "dyke tyke"? There has to be something better and it doesn't have to rhyme. I leave it to you, dear readers, to find a solution.

Finally, I leave this piece of advice from my own best fag Nick:

I like to say that I "came out" into the women's movement. I've always found something divine in the relationships I've had the privilege of sharing with women. I've never been a fan of "rules" of any sort, but if I had to describe the one key rule for being a fag hag is to live life as the diva that you are, and to help your fag live his life in the same way. Women have a power (some call it the "divine feminine") that gay men CONSTANTLY envy. The WORST thing that a fag hag can do is hide her inner diva, or hide the diva inside the gay man she loves. So, in short, the key to being a successful fag hag, in this fag's opinion, is to let your feminine beauty shine--and help your gay man make HIS feminine beauty shine. If life's a drag, a good fag hag makes all of life a drag ball!