I am assuming that political correctness explains that. Still, I think many gay people took satisfaction that one of their tribe won the day. The situation itself is quite contrived. At best, this creates a highly sensitive personality. At worst, it creates a scheming and manipulative one.
Many gay men become a mix of the two styles.
Thus you have Rich, the ruthless corporate strategizer who is also a demonstrably warm counseling student. Consider that Richard was in the U.S. Army for five years and entered West Point. He, like many gay men, has learned to work the system that excludes him, partly by becoming quite charming. It's also worth noting that in the public exhibition of his naked body, Richard demonstrated how gay men, demonized for the appetites of their bodies, must come into a very comfortable relationship with them in order to survive. While the logic that Richard deserved the prize because he didn't make apologies for his scheming is troubling, the experience of hearing his final opponent's position really was annoying.