Complex sentence: Howard's family, friends, students, co-workers and Emily are shocked, but that is nothing compared to Howard's own reaction of disbelief and indignation; he angrily reassures those who know him that he is heterosexual.
Split into simpler sentences: Howard's family, friends, students, co-workers and Emily are shocked; but that is nothing compared to Howard's own reaction of disbelief and indignation. He angrily reassures those who know him that he is heterosexual.