I don't know the answers to this. All I can say is I have known many men who care about me as a human being and not as a sexual object. They definitely exist. It seems like you have some male friends that are platonic and deeply meaningful to you too. My romantic relationship came from a platonic friendship. And I didn't have any intentions that it would turn into more, it just did, organically.

It could be because I belong to a different generation, one that is much more accepting of female sexuality and is also more accepting of LGBTQ people and gender diversity. So maybe that's part of it.

But in my personal experience, men are just as emotional and have just as much desire to show love and express love, as women.

I saw a comment in here that was about moving away from seeing other people "for" something. And I would have to say I agree. I don't pursue people "for" friendship or "for" love or "for" sex. I get to know people because as individuals they interest me. And they get to know me because I interest them. And intimacy (platonic or otherwise) develops naturally from being interested in each other's feelings and thoughts and mutually sharing them. I see it as appreciating people for who they are, not for what they can give me.

Ultimately while someone else's love is an amazing feeling, I love myself (ie my life) and am my most reliable sexual partner.