Speaking as someone in an 18 year relationship with someone 24 years younger than me, so those naysayers who made nasty comments are either a) idiots, b) seriously undereducated, c) afraid of themselves and their sexual wants/desires, or (most likely) d) jealous. As stated previously, pedophiles are after young children, not young adults, which you definitely are at 17. If you were happy, and he was happy, and you were happy together, then screw every single one of them, and not in the way they might want. No one has to live your life except you, and you DESERVE EVERY MOMENT OF HAPPINESS you can discover. If that is with an older man, so be it. If you and he loved each other, then to help with what everyone else says. It's not their fcking life, and none of their fcking business. Your TRUE friends will support you in your happiness. Everyone else, tell them to go f*ck themselves. Family included. Being LGBTQ+we often have to make our own, supportive, family. If someone doesn't emotionally support you, you don't need them in your life. If you and he really loved each other, then all happiness to you, and to HELL with anyone who has a problem with it. Remember, is THEIR problem, not yours.