I disagree. Whatever her reasons, she is entitled to them. People have a right to be wrong.
Not many years ago I was working with a physician out on the west coast. He was born in New Mexico but spent most of his life in California. He also happened to be gay.
I was at dinner with him and partner, Randy. Over conversations at dinner, Randy asked me “So where are you from?†My response “Alabama, more specifically Birminghamâ€Â.
Randy responded “no originally…â€Â
“Birmingham born and raised…â€Â
Randy states “I find that surprising. You seem much too ENLIGHTENED to be from Alabama…â€Â
I paused for a moment said “Randy..you would probably also be surprised to find most folks in Alabama stopped “biting the heads off chickens and marrying their cousins several generations agoâ€Â
Not being able to leave it alone I chuckled and said “And I guess you gave up on the dream of moving up north to San Francisco and becoming the next great Liza Minnelli impersonator?â€Â
After an awkward pause, we all started laughing. Randy said “Touche’…I deserved thatâ€Â.
No harm. No foul.
People sometimes develop ideas and notions about other people and other places because it gives them the only way they can comfortably “process itâ€Â. Doesn’t necessarily have to be correct, as long as it gives them some “comfortâ€Â.
I know I’m not immune to it. I probably have a lot of preconceived ideas and notions that, if I explored deeper, are probably wrong.