Not a bad question at all. *Okay, I'd say some of it is natural. *Some guys are just somewhat effeminate. (Just like some women are "butch"
But that doesn't necessarily mean they are gay. *Case in point- since you mention Christopher Lowell- there is a British design program called "Changing Rooms" (the American version is "Trading Spaces"
and one of the male designer on there is, well, flamboyant- to put it nicely. *They did an episode where two of the designers trade their own home to redecorate and this guy- his name is Lawrence Llwelyn-Bowen- was on with his WIFE! *I was like "NO WAY!!" lol *
Anyway, some of it may be natural, but then some is definitely for show. *Remember, this is television. *Dull people don't make it. *Of course, it also happens in real life. *I feel that may be to "fit in". *Some of these people have never belonged to a group so when you find some place to fit, you try to be like everyone else. *As to "Why gay men have elevated 'camp' to an art form?", well, I think it may have something to do with backlash. *If you are told over and over (and over) "You're a sissy!" or "Don't act like a girl." , then when you find a group that doesn't judge you on that, it's conceivable that you might over act. *Sort of, "If you think I'm a sissy then I be the BIGGEST sissy you've ever seen!"
I, personally, don't subscribe to that philosophy. *I refuse to let anyone else- gay or straight- define how I act. *I think you should be able to be yourself and seen for your strengths not some unimportant physical attribute or characteristic.
I hope I answered your question and didn't bore you...lol.
