The world is full of intolerant people, and they can make our lives miserable if we let them. The best approach is to ignore them as much as possible as they definitely don't count. It's your friends who are important. Of course if you can, try and educate those who ridicule as you never know they may change their attitude, but that's hit and miss.
The person who is the most important in all of this is you, your life, and the way you choose to live it, and while it can be difficult, try not to let others deter or sway you.
I always tell myself that its a case of "Mind over matter". Simply put, "I don't mind and they certainly don't matter".
Steph