>>124818What you did was wrong, but in all likelihood, you're better off not dredging all that back up. I don't think it'd help him, unless he's still living around the same people in the same place and most of them believed it. Does he know it was you who said it?
If you can, maybe go to him in person, treat him with fairness/kindness and apologize. Explain what happened, why you drifted away and how it's plagued you for years. If you feel comfortable talking about your past, you could tell him why you didn't come out before. Again, this is all contingent on him and where he's at regarding the whole thing. It could cause more harm than good if he's fully moved on in life (and could be construed as dickish and self-absorbed if you randomly barged into his life over your own guilt), but if it still affects him and he's at all receptive to talking with you, it might be worth a shot. If people around him scorn him because of it, I'd say it's also worth clearing the air (maybe say it wasn't him that exploited you in that way, and leave it at that). If everyone forgot or thinks the whole thing was a dumb teenage tiff (which is pretty common IMO), don't bring it up, just leave it between you two.
Do note that if he suffers from any kind of BPD, is vindictive or is unhinged, he'll probably try to ruin your life if you go to him.