Ah. I was...similarly persecuted, where I come from. Though it wasn't as personal, and it didn't trouble me anything like as much as your experiences seem to have affected you. Still, I'm sorry for what you must have gone through as a result, especially if it cost you someone you cared for.
Here, at least, are you not judged so much on what you look like? This seems a very permissive place, to me.