A classmate of mine used to have speech and behavior patterns fairly typical of our socio-economic background. Then he spent several years living in New York, working in the theater. When he came to the ten-year class reunion, he lisped and minced and generally conformed to the stereotype.
At my college, a lot of the theater majors seem to talk like Truman Capote, whether they are gay or straight.
My opinion is that people often imitate their friends and coworkers.