This is unlikely as male and female homosexuality is thought to be different phenomena with differing familial patterns. There is an equal incidence of substance abuse between gay men and lesbians. A possible increase in the prevalence of alcoholism in women since the beginning of the 20 th century is an example of societal factors increasing substance problems. In the early 1900 s societal pressures discouraged women from drinking. As the social acceptability of drinking increased, more women drank increasing the exposure to alcohol related problems.
Additional factors involve other aspects of the environment.
Significant exposure to bars, legal prohibitions on homosexual behavior, discrimination, hate crimes, and the failure of some in society to accept or acknowledge gay people has limited the types of social events to bars and other places where alcohol plays a prominent role. Psychological factors may also be involved. Internalized homophobia might be an example. Gay children often grow up in a society that says that they should not exist and certainly should not act on their feelings. These societal feelings can be internalized.