I know it's hard not to feel angry Elizabeth.
The bottom line is people will think what they want to think, and there's nothing I or you can do about it.
Another mod here, CatPajamas, has a line in her sig - what other people think of me is none of my business.
I try hard to live up to that.
I can't change what people think, even if it is unfair/nasty./demeaning or just plain nasty.
I surround myself with people who love support and understand me these days - it makes the other nonsense recede into the background where it belongs
You've had an amazing journey and accomplished a lot - that's the real truth here