It’s official: we’re a soppy old bunch, compared to our straight sisters. New research by DIVA and Gay-PARSHIP.co.uk, the online dating service that powers DIVA Dating, shows that we are more romantic and less likely to cheat, and that while almost 80% of straight women consider regular sex essential or important, a whopping 82% of us think a faithful partner is more important.

Seven hundred lesbians took part in our survey, which asked readers everything from existential questions about love to what fibs they tell their girlfriends, and what sort of décor their ideal partner would have in her home.

The results give us a picture of who today’s lesbian is, what she wants and how she behaves. Two-thirds of us are monogamous, and more than half of us date to find a long-term relationships.

The internet has had a huge impact on the way we find love: almost one in three lesbians has met her partner online, and three-quarters have looked for love on the internet. The majority of us seems to have struck the right balance between love and our social lives, making time for friends and family even when we are all loved-up.

We want to laugh – a sense of humour is our top priority when looking for a girlfriend, just before shared values and interests. We are sensible all-around: the average lesbian has fallen in love twice and had her heart broken once, is open and honest about everything with her partner and her favourite sort of date is a meal in a restaurant, for which she is happy to spend between £31 and £60. For more details, read the full-length feature in this month's magazine.

READ THE REST IN THIS MONTH'S DIVA MAGAZINE