@drhat77 It’s not the suggestion, it is more about how the dad enjoys it. Enjoying it because it is with his daughter and she enjoys it is different than enjoying it as something the dad would want to do even if he didn’t have a daughter. Again, just because a man likes to paint nails, do hair, and make jewelry doesn’t necessarily mean he is gay, but maybe, just maybe, @chyna‘s friends when she said “weird” was also thinking maybe the guy is gay. What does she mean by weird? We have no idea. Maybe her husband would never do such a thing because he is a jerk.
I spent most of my life around gay men. I kind of know which stereotypes tend to pan out, but it is not 100% of course. Stereotypes never are, sometimes they are dead wrong. My friends and I knew those two married guys were gay, and both men eventually wound up leaving their wives for men eventually. I knew my BIL was gay and when he finally came out in his late 30’s early 40’s (I can’t remember how old he was anymore my memory is slipping) he came out to me first. Me, the inlaw, because I had dropped hints I knew. Funny, my aunt came up to me at my wedding, years before he came out and said, “I didn’t know your husband’s brother is gay.” She decided that just by meeting him at my wedding briefly. Fluther would be up in arms if she said that after a 3 minute conversation and being at the same party for two hours. He is a walking stereotype, but it isn’t like he dresses or acts flamboyantly, not at all, it isn’t that sort of stereotype. At the same time I sometimes take ballet and most of the men I know in the ballet are straight, which I think goes against the stereotype many people have, although, there are more gay men as a percentage in ballet then out in the general population.
I have no idea the actual case with the gentleman in question, because I made too many assumptions since I think it is absurd for anyone to question a man playing with his daughter; even dress up; unless they suspect something from being around him to begin with. So, I guess simply put I agree with everyone on the Q that there is nothing weird about it and I do think it is bonding, just as the OP said herself.
But, I appreciate you stating your understanding.