If you're constantly told that your life is worthless and there's no community support for open, healthy, gay relationships, there's a tendency for more risky behavior.
Still common though admittedly less acceptable for families to disown other family members over being homosexual.
Step outside of any major city for a reminder of what the rest of the US is actually like.
And I do agree that this type of shaming and rejection can definitely drive people to engage in reckless/self destructive behaviour.