If it's ok to be gay in "The South"..

[karadax]

What other incorrect assumptions are out there?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/30/the-daily-show-alabama-mississippi-gay-video_n_4177839.html?ncid=txtlnkushpmg00000037&ir=Politics

After finding out that statistician Nate Silver hadn't actually visited Alabama or Mississippi before he projected they would be the last states to approve gay marriage, "The Daily Show" sent Al Madrigal down south to see if he was right.

Using hidden cameras to follow two stunt men posing as a gay couple, Madrigal was able to capture surprisingly positive reactions from the locals in Mississippi, the last state to ratify the 13th amendment to end slavery, and Alabama, the state that "still has segregated sororities."

As it turned out, not only was there a lack of homophobic backlash to the couple, but a lot of folks celebrated their love (and even an engagement in a waffle house) right along with them. Your move, Silver!

[lame54]

1. Here's the vid...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023949867

[William769]

2. To me the South is just like the North when it comes to Homophobia.

It's there just not as rampant as some would want you to believe. There are bigots in every part of our country! (South, North, East, West) Some areas though are a little bit more concentrated than others.

[cali]

6. it's not the same. it's kind of a fish stinks from the head down kind of thing

to some degree. In red states with right wing officials, those bigots have a platform and megaphone. In blue states, the reverse is true. In addition, equality is either codified in state law- or not. Mississippi- not. Massachusetts: Yes.

[William769]

12. When all States like "Massachusetts" are like that get back to me.

A State Like IL that is Democratic through & through in all branches of Government and they can't manage to pass marriage equality? People in glass house shouldn't throw stones (and thats just one example).

[cali]

14. why? why get back to you? the facts remain that blue states- including

Illinois, have more rights for GLBT folks than do red states. that's true NOW. Are they all perfect? Hell no, but they are better. Much better on issue after issue.

Let's look at Illinois and Mississippi:

Discrimination protection

Illinois has protected LGBT persons from discrimination since 2006, based on legislation enacted in 2005.[12][dead link]
Adoption and parenting

The state permits adoption by gay individuals or partners, including second-parent adoptions[13] The Illinois Domestic Violence Act, which protects people who share or used to share a dwelling or a "dating relationship" with their abusers, is written in gender-neutral language and is applicable to same-sex partners.[14]
Hate crime laws

Illinois has recognized hate crimes against lesbian, gay, bisexual, or heterosexual persons since 2001. The law does not protect attacks based on gender identity as such, but gender identity cases can be prosecuted as perceived sexual orientation cases since the state criminalizes attacks based on one's actual or perceived sexual orientation.[15]
Bullying

Since 2010, Illinois has prohibited bullying based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.[16]
Gender reassignment

Any person with an Illinois birth certificate can legally change their gender. In order to legally change it, sexual reassignment surgery is required.[3]
Polling

A majority of Illinois residents support civil unions, health benefits for partners, and protections from hate crimes and discrimination.[17]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Illinois

And Mississippi:

Adoption and parenting

Mississippi permits adoption by an unmarried adult without regard to sexual orientation. Couples of the same gender may not adopt jointly.[4]
Discrimination protection

Mississippi law does not address discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation.[5]
Hate crime laws

State law does not address hate crimes based on gender identity or sexual orientation.[6]
Public opinion

A November 2011 Public Policy Polling survey found that only 13% of Mississippi voters supported the legalization of same-sex marriage, while 78% were opposed and 9% were not sure. A separate question on the same survey found that 38% of respondents supported legal recognition of same-sex couples, with 10% supporting same-sex marriage and 28% supporting civil unions, 60% opposed all legal recognition, and 2% were not sure, making Mississippi one of the most dissenting states in the country on the issue.[7]



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Mississippi

there's more, lots more.

[GoCubsGo]

8. Yep. It all depends on where you are.

Here in South Carolina, there are areas within the state where folks tend to be more accepting of gays. I have been told by some of my gay friends that some of the more urban areas, Charleston and Columbia, in particular, are more gay-friendly. Edgefield County, too, for reasons I don't completely understand. Somebody suggested that had something to do with the horse "industry", which attracts people from all over the place, including Europe, which is definitely more accepting. I'm sure one sees the same sort of thing outside the South.

One of my friends pointed out that she and her partner rarely had difficulties, but that she had observed that gay men were harassed far, far more often. Who knows why...

[Bluenorthwest]

3. In each and every Southern State it is legal to discriminate against gay people in employment

and in housing and in the rendering of services. That's a hell of a long way from being 'ok'. If it was ok to be gay, there would be equal protections under the laws of those States. Of course there are 29 states that allow this hatefulness and not all of them are in the South.
I think that's the sort of thing people mean, and I don't think finding some nice folks at the Waffle House somehow absolves those States from oppressing people.
There is a map of 'Not OK States' at the link
http://www.upworthy.com/29-states-can-fire-you-for-being-gay-is-your-state-one-of-them

[Jamiletto]

4. Were these gay-friendly people young or old?

Younger tend to be more progressive.

[Retrograde]

15. The ones shown were a mix n/t)

[cynatnite]

5. Too bad they didn't film people in the voting booth. n/t

[cali]

7. No, it's not. Can you marry? adopt children? be save from legal discrimination?

No.

[loyalsister]

9. Plenty

This guy exposed a lot of truth and falsehoods. I saw a performance and one of the characters talked about how there were a lot of gay people in churches. The individual stories are awesome. The 90 yr. old countess from NOLA was really fascinating.

[Behind the Aegis]

10. Yes, it is, in many places.

While our rights are not secure in many of these places, it is "ok" to be gay. I have found it is usually easier in larger cities, but even living in small city Oklahoma, I have had relatively few problems. No problems with the neighbors or my partner's co-workers, thus far. To be honest, in some cases I am more worried they will find out I am Jewish before finding out I am gay. Attitudes are changing, even in the South, despite the hate-filled regionalistic bigots screechings. I have no idea when these attitudes will translate into equality, but being able to move freely without harassment is a nice thing.

[joeybee12]

11. Nate Silver is right...sorry to disappoint you...

Yes, there are some places where it's ok to be gay in the South, just as there are some places in the north where it's not ok. That said, no southern state has state-wide anti-discrimination laws, they are red states where their elected officials are the biggest steaming piles of bigoted shit on this planet...the South will not accept marriage equality on their own...they will get it when SCOTUS rules all states must allow it.

[RebelOne]

13. Having lived in South Florida much of my life,

I have found that there is very little discrimination toward gays. I had gay friends and gay co-workers and they were all accepted. I now live in North Georgia and have also not noticed any discrimination against gays.