I'd swear we are more prone to this kind of behavior at this time, but I'm not at all certain why. Perhaps the internet is playing out Lord of the Flies with each new generation from here on out. Children, none even close to 20, away from parental supervision on the internet. Forming colonies, cultures, even the occasional language. When two cultures meet like this in the same person, this may lead to the dual meaning of words as both acceptable and grotesque. Then people feel a need to apologize when all harm done is only due to the victim's definition of harm, rather than the intent. But I digress.
Idle speculation can prove nor disprove anything. If it could, I would argue that I have more money in the pockets of any pants I care to wear than all the banks in the world will ever see. Speaking of which: foiled again! Curse you logic!
Just for the record, being called a 'fag' and accused of 'man-loving' gets ironic when they do it to me. "Yeah I'm into men. What are you gonna do about it?"
I get the same response whenever I respond to an insult with the statement "Only for you", or other such statements of affection. Regardless of gender, it's hilarious to watch any subsequent facial expressions.
Whenever I see a program aimed at promoting equality, I am reminded that when true and full equality is acknowledged by all, it will be those same programs and TV shows and advertisements which will be the last bastion of discrimination between any groups. When their business is done, we will either learn to ignore their statements as a curio of the past or we will risk racism in the opposite direction.