I hope so. They were kids. They needed to be taught. I do not ever wish to be pitied. I have a wonderful life.
Pity is totally inappropriate.
As for the stares and comments, they will always hurt, but in the end they really don't matter. What's inside is what matters. More people should hear your message. This message is given to us at a very early age. Hopefully, these young ladies and boys will discover it's what's inside that counts, and not what's outside that matters.