I steeled myself to contend with their bigoted assumptions and assertions. Bearing that in mind, I was prepared to once again contend with a torrent of homophobia and the angst and exhaustion of having to explain myself to people I met. The South is a place where tradition governs our lives, where change is a dirty word. As I drove my little Jetta with a pride flag bumper sticker, I braced for what I knew was coming.
