@jerv Perhaps that is true, but unpleasant people and the accompanying stereotypes about them can be found anywhere in the country, and the world for that matter. The South doesn’t have a corner on the market. Many of the stereotypes I continue to hear about the South are about 50 to 100 years out of date.
@psychocandy Legal protection for LGBTQ community members is another matter, and I certainly believe that is something that should exist worldwide. However, I wasn’t addressing you. I was addressing @jerv‘s comment about willful ignorance, bigotry, unemployment and bad education, which I felt were rather strong generalizations, and which could ostensibly be made about anyplace on Earth by someone who wanted to. The South is not the only area of the U.S. that doesn’t provide legal protections for LGBTQ community. The area of the South I reside in (Nashville) does in fact have a very large, vibrant and open LGBTQ community who seem very happy living here.
I grew up in Hawaii and lived all over the world (military family). Frankly, I have seen no real difference in people’s levels of bigotry anywhere I’ve lived, and the South is no worse or better in that respect.