This has been true since the 90s at least. The sitcom Will & Grace was devoted to it and ran for 246 episodes.

When I was in college, my ex girlfriend and the clique she was in had a token faggot in their group. he was like a court jester. his job was to stir up drama and provide the whole group entertainment with his antics. they all ate it the fuck up like you wouldn't believe. it was the most entertaining shit in the world to them to watch a flaming faggot just "be himself" and parade his mental illness around for their attention and applause.