I’m impressed by your mindset about all of this. My two cents would be to try your best to be as kind as possible to both him and the whole jock friend group.

They want to humiliate you and see your pain. Do your best to not give them that satisfaction and you will come out on top.

In the long run he will carry the weight of his actions forever and if you continue to be the excellent and mature person that you are then that shame won’t be a burden for you. Love is always right, and kindness can often be the best response. Plus if you just seem nonchalant about it they will be confused and rightly embarrassed, maybe they might even realize homophobia doesn’t have a place in this world.

Thanks for the update and I hope the best for you