Talking to myself.
Sometimes horrible things just happen...and it's hard to know what to do and how to react. You're surviving and trying to help, but it doesn't feel good, because those barbs dig in deep, even if they were flung at you without enough thought behind them. You can't blame them for jumping to conclusions, but you can still be hurt that they did. You'll probably continue to hope and pray that the atmosphere becomes more accepting and less hateful, but in light of the things that have happened, you really don't have direct influence over what people have done and how others react.
Instead, wait and see, continue your determined honesty and serenity as best as you can, and in the meantime, enjoy your vacation and your holiday. You'll be bringing love to a family member who is alone in another part of the world, and that is a reward in and of itself.
Just keep swimming...
(general advice to all: be honest and loving and have a merry Christmas)