Eh, didn't stop me from having an exclusive attraction to the opposite sex and that was without knowing anything about orientation or any "teaching" while younger either so hey, not very convincing.
Then why say "American music"?
The first pieces I heard yes, more of his earlier works. Some would still say that those could be classed as an 'acquired taste' although his music is hardly 'unpopular' in modern classical music.
Not sure 'acquire' is the right word but yes, there's been pieces I didn't like as a kid that I love now and have done for years. Never gonna be some crap pop song though.