Decades ago, women in both the United States and Japan shared a simliar revelation. Gay men are arousing. Fantasies about men in love with men are not just sexy--they're safe. Women should be able to turn to more than your typical bodice-ripping romance novels to engage in some healthy, fun fantasizing.

In the US, women began circulating homemade books of short stories featuring popular fictional characters in fantasy settings. The most well-known pair was Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock from Star Trek.

In Japan, women began publishing comic-style depictions of male on male romance. This gave women and outlet to vent their sexual interests without feeling like they had to place themselves--even via fantasy--in a subservient or vulnerable position.

Confused? Let's break it down. To many women, there's something very sexy about two guys making out. Take Brokeback Mountain as a very popular example. A surprisingly number of women were drawn to that movie, and not just for the great acting and beautiful scenery. Women realized that they found the love affair between two men arousing and compelling.

It's a little-known-fact that popular websites like Amazon.com carry male-on-male romance novels that are marketed to women as much as they're marketed to men.

Curious? A little excited? Pick up a paperback or drop a few dollars on an e-book. With genres from space fantasy to urban realism, you're bound to find something that attracts you from a literary perspective.

As more women embrace their fantasies and ignore bigotry and outdated societal standards, the rules of traditional romance will continue to be broken.