HN user
There's health software such as OpenMRS, OpenLMIS, ODK, etc. I've made some limited use of learning systems such as Moodle in low resource environments. Also don't discount expanding what you're "skills" are and consider programs such as Peace Corps (if USA).
There is so much more to this career than what your peers think of you. There are your clients and project stakeholders. Your supervisors and mentors. Your own feeling of accomplishment and your contribution to society. I can't (or perhaps it's just that I likely won't) experience the perspective from your biological gender, however you have to understand that you don't have to justify or prove yourself, especially not to your peers. The worst thing you can do is squander an opportunity.
I sympathize with the awkwardness, but after you've led a good life, think of the stories to tell the grandkids.
It seems to be in very poor conduct for an employer to discuss, by name, the performance of an employee. In the U.S. the employee would likely have grounds for a lawsuit. Regardless of location, this does come down to a he-said, she-said type argument and private conversations such as these are not appropriate to share with the public. IMHO.
For web applications, I loved what I could do with Java EE and GWT.
Well that makes sense. Also would make sense that this is possibly why he got laid off in the first place.
Did you go back to the same field and responsibilities? I'm taking almost 2.5 years off but I don't really think I'll suffer a set-back.