Maybe it has negative connotations for you. But, I think it was an appropriate use of the word as many aspects of LGBT culture have worked their way into popular culture and are now considered cool (regardless of one’s sexual preferences).
Don't forget a certain F word is still used as an insult in English. And don't forget there are places in the world, where being openly gay is definitely not accepted (like Russia). Or even parts of the world, where it will definitely get you killed.
Calling being Gay fashionable is certainly a mindset that could only be developed in the last 5~ years in the USA or a very select few other countries.
Which was a year before gay marriage was legal in the USA. Queer eye is a show that was showcasing something that was not commonplace at the time. I don't think it's an argument that being gay was fashionable in the early 2000's unless you mean fashionable in the most literal way.
