Of course, not all such sites are created equal. Some emphasize the social aspect of social networking and are all about cruising, dating or hooking up with the half-naked guys that swarm the sites. Others emphasize the networking aspect—whether that means finding new clients, friends or true loves.

Considering the options, it can be difficult to decide which site will be a perfect match and which will be a horrible mistake. The following list is hardly exhaustive—there are too many LGBT social networking sites to list here—but it should get you pointed in the right direction.

Jake—If you’re looking for a buttoned-up, business-centric site, you should head over to Jake pronto. One of the more elegant gay social networking sites out there, the seven-year-old site bills itself as the world’s largest gay professional development community, with more than 30,000 members “sending millions of messages and attending hundreds of events a year.” Jake allows trusted and constructed profiles, with the former featuring “real names, decent photos and descriptions that read like truthful introductions,” and encourages members to “get as much professional benefit out of the community as possible” by advertising their companies or services and/or applying for jobs posted to the site. Basic membership is free, though paying $20 per month provides additional storage for member mailboxes and allows access to exclusive events, among other perks.

Glee—Glee isn’t as stuffy as Jake, but it’s just as professional (i.e., it has a nice, clean interface that isn’t cluttered with the usual crap you see on such sites). Business doesn’t seem to be the focus here—all forms of social interaction are treated equally on this recent entry into the gay dot-com scene, in fact—though a partnership with Monster.com gives Glee a foot up on its competition in terms of offering targeted job opportunities to members. Other than that, the options here are similar to those you’d find at any other gay social networking site—you can create a profile, post photos, chat with other members, join groups, read LGBT news, etc. Unlike the aforementioned Jake, which is for gay guys only, membership here is free and open to anyone in the LGBT community.

BigJock—This site made a big splash when it launched back in late 2006, thanks in part to its name (I can probably count on one hand the number of gay men that wouldn’t be interested in a site called BigJock) and in part to its strangely intriguing mascot (a muscular monkey wearing a rainbow t-shirt). The site’s definitely a little low-rent compared to Glee and Jake—it’s landing page is pretty cluttered and more than a bit garish—but it does a good job of letting visitors know what they’re getting into (photos of a lot of shirtless guys). Membership is free, and users can set up their own blog, check out classifieds, chat in forums and join groups. A particularly fun option allows visitors to rate others’ profile photos. As with Jake, this one’s for gay guys only.

ManJam—You can pretty much tell what one of these sites is all about based on its name, can’t you? Take ManJam, for instance—based on the photo (of a shirtless muscle man) that appears on its front page, where do you think its focus lies? Give yourself a pat on the back if your answer includes one of the following: cruising, dating or hooking up. Not that there’s anything wrong with that! Profiles featuring shirtless pics are the norm on ManJam, though the site does offer a few options to those looking for more (by allowing them to look for a place to live, find a job or meet new friends). Membership is free and allows users to set up a profile, post photos and videos, chat with other members and, interestingly enough, post resumes.

Lovetastic—Looking for the complete opposite of BigJock and ManJam? Lovetastic.com may be the place for you (if you’re a gay guy—unfortunately lesbians and transgender people don’t seem to be all that welcome here). You can tell this site has a different agenda as soon as you see its landing page—no photos of half-naked men, just tasteful headshots and text that reads, “Our profiles are about more than the size of a guy's body parts or bank account.” Another telling piece of text: “Our gently subversive goal is simple: to prove that gay men can have lasting love, and to help you find yours.” Free memberships for this slick site allows users to create a profile, search the site and receive messages, while paid memberships ($6/month) enable users to send messages and chat.

oneGoodLove—The brainchild of a former Match.com employee, oneGoodLove is a lot like Lovetastic—it’s attractive, easy to use and bills itself as being for relationship-minded gays and lesbians. Actually, transgender folk are welcome at oneGoodLove as well, so the entire LGBT community is represented on this fairly young site. Another aspect that separates oneGoodLove from the pack: Members-to-be start out by taking a personality test specifically designed for LGBT folk, which helps “ensure relevant matches and even better long-term results.” Skeptics should not only take the test, but check out the “How It Works” and “Take the Tour” sections, both of which provide insight into the inner workings of the site.

OurChart—OK, ladies, here’s what you’ve (hopefully) been looking for: a social networking site of your very own. Fans of the popular Showtime series, The L Word, probably already know where the name for this site comes from (if that doesn’t include you, it refers to a chart created by one of the series’ main characters, who uses it to keep track of her relationships). Interestingly, cast members Jennifer Beals, Katherine Moennig and Leisha Hailey are among the slick site’s founders. Membership, which is free, allows users to set up a profile, create their own charts, chat in forums and check out L Word-related news. 

Olivia Connect—Another recent entry into the gay social networking scene is the “ladies only” site concocted by Olivia, best known for being a leader in lesbian travel. olivia.com/connect/ feels a bit more corporate than its counterparts but still offers plenty of options: members can make friends, share photos, send flirts (whatever that means) and take quizzes. A resource center (which promises to connect members with everyone from fitness coaches to financial advisors) is a nice addition that can’t be found on the sites mentioned above.