In the olden days whenever they see someone together with very close ties with the same sex, they ask are you a couple? Of course, you feel awkward. Before "gay" is being branded as an outcast, jinx, joke and what have you. These judgments are times that you decide to veer away, or to look for a resolution or something else, whether to leave your friends, join other flocks, and the like. Where you rather save your friends, yourself, or any of your loved ones from judgemental eyes? Now is totally different than then. It is easier to justify yourself now.
Friendship and affection, however, are two different kinds of love. When you are younger you may not understand the full meaning of it yet. You might just be dictated to by society.
Prejudice on the other hand is something that affects young minds, whether it be then or now.
This movie is one good representation of society's biased judgment, it is not because they are gay friends it is because Leo (at his age) can not take the peer pressure (some might have suicidal tendencies all because of pressure) or guilt that it may be true and he did what he thought was best.
As they say, there is always a reason for everything. You might also be one reason for one's life, for better or for worse.