I've been referred to a lot as a girl in game, in no small part to (apparently) my username, my textures, my colours, and (apparently) the way I speak. I don't really care enough to correct them. It's kinda too much work to explain that I'm a guy, and how I'm not gay despite one of my favourite colours being pink. *Sigh* Well, in a year filled with these misunderstandings of my gender, not once has the conversation turned toxic.
I think someone mentioned earlier that the people you were talking to probably just didn't like you, and since you told them your gender, they used that as fuel for the fire, if you will.
You also have to remember that this game holds an international playerbase, where many people come from different cultures that currently hold women in many different regards.