i think it's fine for married people to have friends of either gender as long as there is nothing sexual/inappropriate going on and both halves of the married couple are ok with it

that doesn't mean i go out drinking or go out on 'dates' with guys while my dh sits at home, or anything like that - far from it lol but imo there's nothing wrong with going to lunch, to starbucks, shopping, or chatting on the phone with a friend who just happens to be male