I don't think using a gas station as your benchmark is fair. I live in what is literally the bluest state if the per county election maps are to be believed. Nobody wears masks at the gas stations unless you're going inside. Mask compliance is practically 100% inside.

That's funny because I'm from SC and Hendersonville was the first place I felt that was too lax in social distancing this summer. In 2 different restaurants (Pop's Diner and Flat Rock Wood Room) parties were sat at tables adjacent to ours. I actually had to check to see if NC had any sort of restrictions in place. Anecdotally, I would say that mask adoption in SC where I live is ~65-70% but even in places where I was in the minority for wearing a mask I've never seen a smirk or a chuckle and definitely haven't felt alienated.

No matter where you are there will be some fraction of people who are children about it. I'm in Boston and friends have had people yell in their faces about how they're stupid for worrying about it (home depot) and I've personally had people drive by and feel the need to bother shouting out their window about how my mask is gay.

To be fair, my mask has lovely periwinkle patterns and I am gay, but that's a lot of effort they're putting into getting attention and obviously comes from deep seated issues with their own masculinity that aren't my problem.

Nonetheless they have been the exception rather than the rule, so it may be good to assume the best unless someone is actually accosting you.

I've noticed there is a strong tendency for people to assume that a stranger's gaze is antagonistic when in reality they barely register you are there.

It is hard to not be extra sensitive to these things when you are a minority, I guess honestly a lot of people are learning what that feels like for the first time.