Albeit only remotely connected to my LGBT status, I"m finally glad to leave the midwest.
I've been on a 6 month inteventional mission to my elderly parents self destructive wind-down. Got the worst problem placed in nursing home care, set up home care and meals on wheels for mom. I also considered this sort of a depraved sabbatical for myself after severe injuries sustained in a brutal mugging just over 4 years ago.
But frankly even going to a "red" area of california for work now has desirability over this. Between the load of hateful bumperstickers sighted daily, and Fox Noose delusional Zombies driving hundreds of monster pickemuptrucks complete with smokestacks to ensure as much carbon pollutant effluent into yet still relatively pristine air to drive one fat ass and one bag of groceries 30 miles round to work... cough, cough,... as the "one man, one woman" bumpersticker cuts a stinky self righteous fart on my "Love conquers hate" equality flag.
There still, but never see the ratio of this beyond that california border. Ever.
Yet I leave here with the most disturbing thought. That the likes of my mom exist in this area where the media pounds in all kinds of "drive your fucking cars to hell, burn more fuel in the name of X oil company's "good deeds" *coughing more*" but look at all those terrible faggots wrecking our way of life!!!!" televised brainwashing that still has her 87 year old brain convinced it is still post-WWII, and the repugs will save us all from tyranny. No amount of reality will soak her delusional soul, evidence from practically every major university and reliable institute of higher learning, even albeit a product of one, The oceans radical change in pH, nothing soaks because the box has her convinced to vote for the likes of Newt fuckwad Gingrich or whatever red one runs. I assure you the televisionus mesmerizing rays do not enter my own home, haven't since RayGun totally deleveled that playground, and never will in the unwilling and pervasive fashion it bombards and sickens me with on nearly a daily basis when intervening with my mom's problems.
Yet it stirs so much anger at the Kock brothers, and other 1 percenter's efforts to cause this. The number of misinformed, delusional or downright militant hoardes are just palpable here in a way that disturbs my dreams. Tomorrow I leave it behind me in my rear view mirror. Hare Krishna, Hare Rama. Namaste.
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go back to the Midwest. I've reconnected recently with former classmates, most of whom stayed close to the village, and they think nothing of talking about Chick-Fil-A outings, and God this, God that, God, God, God, Jesus Loves You!, the latest Obama conspiracy theory, Joyce Meyers Ministries, hate pastor Rick Warren. Etc. 
It's remarkable how much I've changed since I left there, in contrast. Those who really did like me STILL like me, even though they are well-aware of my liberal, progressive, Democratic sympathies. For those who never knew me well but let loose with this right-wing garbage, I tune out completely, and they never WILL get to know me now.
Peace. 
Sorry to hear about your mugging - I was also a few years ago, though the wounds were mostly psychological.
Welcome home.
