Why?

You know, CC - you need to get out of that environment. Seriously. You are being judged, and have been judged, your whole life, in a negative light. You don't see yourself that way and it's doing you no good at all to continue to be surrounded by that shite.

I don't know why this is happening, but first of all, even if you were guilty of what they're saying, they shouldn't be saying it anyway. It's not supportive or loving. So... these people do not support or love you (esp the way you need to be, as with all of us). So why hang around them? They're detrimental to you.

I don't know where they get the audacity, either. Some kind of attitude - who puts people down for being different? Not the kind of people you want to hang out with, right? So - dump them! Just be too busy, have an appointment, that's not a good time for me, maybe next time, etc... get rid of them (it's not that hard), and find a new group who don't know anything about you so they can't/won't repeat the same crap this group does.

Embrace yourself and your differences and get out of Dodge, one way or another. Try to put this all behind you in your new endeavours.

And good for you for not believing all that stuff. Think about how you can be good to yourself and do it. Hint: one way would be dumping their sorry asses, or at least not being available very often. Also, you could say, "That's not me you're talking about"... "I don't want to hear that again."... "Stop. Stop right there. I'm not listening to this. If you continue, I'm leaving."

I hope you update us! And good luck.

This is really good advice, though this problem seems to follow me everywhere I go. If I were to find a new group of people, they'd have a problem with me all over again. I definitely need to cut off some family though.

As Mame said, you need to stop people the minute they start in on trying to talk down to you and/or be disrespectful. If you let them, they'll do it. It is up to you to stop them and be firm about it.

You tell them "I will not allow you to talk to me in this manner! If you cannot speak to me in a respectful tone, we're done here" ...and then walk away!

It's one thing to be talked to in such a disrespectful manner, but it is another thing if you allow it to happen. Stop them in their tracks and walk away!

This is very true. I need to start doing this

You have received some very good advice. Never doubt your self worth. Be firm with the ones treating you this way.