#Southern States | Alabama

[doueverwonder]

back to thinking about Gov making the regions intermingle, the Midwest and South was somehow the worst and best of all of them. What started off as Country Folk Shenanigans(TM) and a worrying amount of jello and/or cool whip based salads ended with a stand-off to see who was going to be impolite and leave first. They ended up having to send other states in to break it up.

[motelpearl]

[rebelyells]

In Defense of Southern Heritage!

Matt Walsh Defends our Heritage!

[gaymothman]

and y'all think it's the southern voters' fault right? y'all think it's cuz we are all maga crazy right? y'all think we like living like this right?

[critical-skeptic]

Understanding the Southern Perimeter’s Republican Lean: A Multi-Factor Analysis

The political landscape of the United States is often discussed in terms of blue and red states, with certain regions consistently leaning Republican or Democrat. However, the southern perimeter of the continental U.S.—stretching from California to Florida—presents a unique case study. Despite cultural diversity, varying industries, and demographic shifts, this region generally leans Republican. This alignment, which includes border states with Mexico and those along the Gulf Coast, emerges from a complex interplay of geography, economics, historical values, and cultural attitudes.

1. Geographical and Climatic Influences

The southern perimeter is defined by its warmer climates, which attract specific demographics, most notably retirees. States like Florida have become retirement havens, drawing older populations from traditionally Democratic northern regions. This migration brings a demographic that often prioritizes conservative values such as lower taxes, property rights, and fiscal conservatism, aligning well with Republican ideologies. The subtropical to desert-like climate also shapes industries in these states, favoring agriculture, tourism, and energy sectors that lean conservative due to their reliance on limited government intervention and favorable regulatory policies.

Additionally, the shape and layout of these states play a role. California’s extensive north-south reach and diverse climate foster a mix of political ideologies, making it more complex, though its highly populated coastal cities tend toward Democratic dominance. By contrast, Arizona and Texas, with expansive rural and desert regions along the border, amplify conservative values centered on self-reliance and individualism, often associated with frontier mentality.

2. Historical and Cultural Factors

Southern states, including those on the southern perimeter, have a strong cultural legacy of conservatism rooted in a combination of frontier independence, skepticism of federal oversight, and a tradition of states’ rights. This tradition resonates with Republican ideology, which emphasizes limited government, individual liberties, and a cautious approach to social change. While California may stand as an exception due to its urban liberal hubs, the states from Texas through Florida reflect this traditional conservatism that has persisted over decades, reinforced by political institutions and local values.

Texas, in particular, embodies this “frontier spirit.” The state’s long history as a republic, combined with its emphasis on rugged individualism and suspicion of centralized power, aligns with Republican principles. Arizona, with its substantial rural population and similar desert environment, mirrors this mindset. The “frontier mentality” persists in these areas, where local culture values autonomy and self-reliance—traits that naturally dovetail with conservative ideologies.

3. Economics and Industry Patterns

Economic structures in these states contribute heavily to their conservative leanings. Texas, for example, is a major oil producer, while Florida’s economy is driven by tourism and agriculture. These industries often thrive under conservative economic policies, which typically favor deregulation, low taxes, and minimal government interference. Republican economic policies are seen as beneficial by stakeholders in these sectors, making the party an appealing choice for many business owners and workers.

Moreover, certain industries in these states feel the impact of immigration more directly, leading to support for stricter border policies and a more conservative stance on national security. Agriculture and construction in Arizona, Texas, and Florida rely heavily on immigrant labor but also face challenges from undocumented immigration, shaping local attitudes toward Republican policies that prioritize border enforcement and immigration control.

4. Proximity to the Mexican Border and the “Diversity Paradox”

For border states like Texas and Arizona, proximity to Mexico brings border security and immigration issues to the forefront of local politics. This isn’t just about geographical closeness; it’s about the daily reality of cross-border dynamics that influence attitudes toward national security, cultural integration, and economic impacts. The southern perimeter’s conservative alignment is often reinforced by a sense of “us vs. them,” a cultural boundary that shapes perceptions of national identity and sovereignty.

Counterintuitively, the high diversity in these border states does not automatically translate to liberal leanings. Instead, the influx of new populations can sometimes trigger a conservative backlash, as local communities respond to perceived cultural and economic shifts. This “diversity paradox” suggests that in some cases, increasing diversity can actually entrench conservative ideologies as groups seek to preserve traditional values in the face of demographic changes. California and New Mexico differ here, as both have deeply rooted Hispanic and Native American populations that pre-date current immigration concerns, leading to a multicultural identity that integrates rather than reacts to diversity.

5. Rural-Urban Divide and Population Distribution

The rural-urban divide is a significant factor in understanding Republican dominance in the southern perimeter states. Urban centers in Texas (Austin, Houston, and Dallas), Arizona (Phoenix), and Florida (Miami) tend to lean Democratic, but the vast rural areas and smaller towns remain conservative strongholds. Given that these rural and suburban regions often have disproportionate legislative influence due to gerrymandering and districting practices, Republican preferences are amplified politically.

In these rural areas, the appeal of Republican ideology is tied to a distrust of federal intervention and a commitment to traditional social values. The conservative emphasis on “law and order” and the right to bear arms resonates with rural populations who prioritize self-sufficiency and often feel culturally alienated from urban liberalism. This dynamic creates a political landscape where urban and rural values clash, but the rural-dominated districts sustain Republican influence at state and federal levels.

6. Geopolitical Significance and National Policy

Border security, immigration, and national security are not merely abstract political issues in the southern perimeter states; they are local realities. The Republican party’s stance on border control and immigration resonates with communities directly impacted by these policies. For residents in states like Texas and Arizona, issues of border security are personal and immediate, influencing their political alignment. The southern perimeter’s exposure to these cross-border dynamics fuels support for policies that emphasize strict immigration enforcement, contributing to the region’s Republican leanings.

Furthermore, the high visibility of national debates on immigration and security in these states places them in a unique geopolitical position. Residents of the southern perimeter often view federal immigration policies through the lens of local impact, which can heighten conservative stances on enforcement and sovereignty, particularly during times of political polarization on these issues.

The southern perimeter’s Republican alignment, spanning from California to Florida, is a product of interwoven geographical, economic, cultural, and historical factors. From the lure of warm climates drawing conservative-leaning demographics to the economic structures that benefit from conservative policies, each element reinforces the region’s political leanings. The combination of rural influence, frontier mentality, and proximity to the Mexican border creates a unique political identity that sustains Republican dominance.

While California and New Mexico serve as exceptions due to their own unique geographic and cultural compositions, the southern perimeter as a whole demonstrates the impact of physical geography and local demographics on political identity. This analysis underscores how politics in border states cannot be reduced to simple assumptions about diversity or proximity to Mexico; instead, it is the product of complex, localized dynamics that shape conservative values and Republican support across the region.

[lavender-jedi]

Yo the stereotype about southern food being unhealthy is kinda bullshit when you think about it

Like yeah mac n cheese and fried chicken aren't the healthiest, but literally every culture (even the ones known for healthy diets) have less nutritious dishes one could point to

Literally so much of southern cuisine revolves around veggies, like greens, beans, sweet potatoes, succotash, maux choux, gumbo, jambalaya

Also we prepare meat in more ways than just frying, like low country boil, blackened catfish, barbecue, gumbo/jambalaya/etoufee, etc.

People like to casually blame the high rates of obesity and heart disease in the south on southern cuisine, but that's a really convenient way to ignore the prevalence of food deserts and lack of access to quality healthcare down here for poor folks

[moonspower]

remember those writing guides ud see.......... i feel like writing one on the southern region cuz im tired of seeing ppl have southern muses and chalking it up to them saying Y'ALL and nothing else when down here we're very diverse. some parts, very small parts, have decoration day. which is kind of akin to japans obon where we decorate graves and have picnics and play games in said graveyard. eat poke sallet from poke weed which can kill u if not cooked properly. appalachian culture, etc etcetc. so many influences from french to irish even german. and african and indigenous.

also y'all is sooo expansive.... y'all'd've don died had you swam deeper in that lake.... y'all'd'nt had any damn luck in the lottery.... y'all'a been late for lunch had you come in 10 minutes later.... y'all'n gon and fucked up the plumbing, thanks.

[llatimeria]

my dad is thinking about bringing the family down to alabama to see his mom but i know for a fact we aren't gonna stay with her or see her too much (we're distant for a reason) but is there anything else to like. do. in alabama

[actuallytodojewski]

vote

Alabama: https://www.sos.alabama.gov/alabama-votes/voter/register-to-vote

Alaska: https://www.elections.alaska.gov/Core/voterregistration.php

Arizona: https://azsos.gov/elections/voters

Arkansas: https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/voter-information/voter-registration-information

California: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration

Colorado: https://www.sos.state.co.us/voter/pages/pub/olvr/findVoterReg.xhtml

Connecticut: https://portal.ct.gov/sots/election-services/voter-information/voter-registration-information

Delaware: https://elections.delaware.gov/voter/votereg.shtml

Florida: https://www.registertovoteflorida.gov/home

Georgia: https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/

Hawaii: https://elections.hawaii.gov/register-to-vote/registration/

Idaho: https://voteidaho.gov/voter-registration/

Illinois: https://www.elections.il.gov/votingandregistrationsystems/register.aspx

Indiana: https://indianavoters.in.gov/

Iowa: https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterinformation/voterregistration.html

Kansas: https://sos.ks.gov/elections/voter-registration.html

Kentucky: https://elect.ky.gov/registertovote/Pages/default.aspx

Louisiana: https://www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/Pages/OnlineVoterRegistration.aspx

Maine: https://registertovote.sos.maine.gov/Home

Maryland: https://elections.maryland.gov/voter_registration/index.html

Massachusetts: https://www.mass.gov/topics/voting

Michigan: https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/

Minnesota: https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/register-to-vote/

Mississippi: https://www.sos.ms.gov/elections-voting/voter-registration-information

Missouri: https://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/goVoteMissouri/register

Montana: https://votemt.gov/voter-registration/

Nebraska: https://www.nebraska.gov/apps-sos-voter-registration/

Nevada: https://registertovote.nv.gov/

New Hampshire: https://www.sos.nh.gov/elections/register-vote

New Jersey: https://nj.gov/state/elections/voter-registration.shtml

New Mexico: https://www.sos.nm.gov/voting-and-elections/voter-information-portal-nmvote-org/voter-registration-information/

New York: https://elections.ny.gov/register-vote

North Carolina: https://www.ncsbe.gov/registering/checking-your-registration

North Dakota: https://www.sos.nd.gov/elections/voter/voting-north-dakota

Ohio: https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/register/

Oklahoma: https://oklahoma.gov/elections/voter-registration/register-to-vote.html

Oregon: https://sos.oregon.gov/voting/Pages/registration.aspx?lang=en

Pennsylvania: https://www.pa.gov/en/agencies/vote/voter-registration.html

Rhode Island: https://vote.sos.ri.gov/

South Carolina: https://scvotes.gov/voters/register-to-vote/

South Dakota: https://sdsos.gov/elections-voting/voting/register-to-vote/default.aspx

Tennessee: https://sos.tn.gov/elections/guides/how-to-register-to-vote

Texas: https://www.texas.gov/living-in-texas/texas-voter-registration/

Utah: https://secure.utah.gov/voterreg/index.html

Vermont: https://sos.vermont.gov/elections/voters/registration/

Virginia: https://www.elections.virginia.gov/registration/

Washington: https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/voters/voter-registration/register-vote-washington-state

West Virginia: https://ovr.sos.wv.gov/register/Landing

Wisconsin: https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/Voter-Registration

Wyoming: https://sos.wyo.gov/Elections/State/RegisteringToVote.aspx

[Image ID: A series of screenshots from a Twitter thread by Jason Coupet / professajay.

Text begins: Man voting in Georgia is so different than in Illinois. When I lived in chicago, during early voting, I went to the local elementary school, waited in line about ten minutes, and they gave me a sheet of paper. I checked people off then I put it in the machine and left.

Not Georgia. We drove downtown because *every* other polling place had a line >90 minutes. We paid ten bucks to park. We went in the building, then emptied out pockets to go through a metal detector. We then saw a sign about where to park to get our parking validated. Inside.

We then waited in line ~80 minutes. We got to the end and we were given a form to fill out (?). We were told *not* to sign it until told. Then we were moved into a waiting room where we were given a ticket number, like when you are at the dmv.

We were told to get our IDs out and wait. We waited here for 15-20 minutes. When your number is called they took your form, did some stuff on the computer, then told you to sign the form. Then you get a little green card. You insert it into the machine.

Then you go through three or four prompts, including a very serious™️ warning about perjury, a totally necessary warning given how huge a problem stolen identity is for the purposes of voting on behalf of someone else.

You then finally vote, and after an “are you sure” prompt you get a sheet. You then have to walk the sheet over to feed it into a machine. About half of these were working.

The bottleneck was clearly the weird application and waiting room thing. There are two dozen people at a time sitting to have their stuffed checked. Think of it as regular voting except when you got there they had to run a credit check for *each person* like you need financing.

It was easier finishing my PhD paperwork. Thankful for the kind people (nearly all black women) the shepherded the processes. But man if you are poor or disabled or whatever, good luck yo. That should have been easier. We finished tho. Text ends.

Image ID: Two Black people are standing beside a city street and smiling at the camera, a man and a woman. The man has close-cropped hair and a beard. He is wearing a black hoodie that says Southside and has a sticker on his chest with a peach on it. The woman has large tortoiseshell browline glasses and long twist locs. She has a light brown leather crossbody bag, and is wearing a salmon-colored windbreaker. She also has a peach sticker on her chest, which she is pointing to. Her hand has a wedding ring. End ID]

[motelpearl]

[rebelyells]

It’s Lee - Jackson Day. Still an official holiday in Virginia hearts and minds!

[itgetsbetterproject]

🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ GOOD queer news for the TL: a bunch of students across the U.S. are using grants to make their schools more welcoming for LGBTQ+ youth

Queer students deserve to feel safe at school! We're in our third year of giving grants to put the power in their hands to make their schools more welcoming - students know what they need most in their own communities and their own schools.

Through 50 States, 50 Grants, 5,000 Voices, we've awarded over $1.5 million in grants across the U.S. to support student-led projects. Our third season has some of the most badass projects yet, like these:

❤️ “With this grant, we’ll establish an LGBTQIA+ community space in the library, open to all students, with guest speakers, arts and crafts, LGBTQIA+ books and literature, and LGBTQIA+-specific resources.” - Pocatello, Idaho

🧡 “Our project aims to support LGBTQ+ students through teacher training, development of gender-neutral bathroom protocols, and the organization of a district-wide Queer Prom.” - Gypsum, Colorado

💛 “We’ll take students from the 3 middle schools and our local high school to Honolulu Pride to make local LGBTQ+ friends, feel accepted in a large group, and see the community beyond just school.” - Ewa Beach, Hawai'i

💚 “We’re going to increase access to queer literature by working with a local nonprofit to expand our school’s collection, host storytelling events, and foster community connection." - Mobile, Alabama

💙 “Our plan is to create new Inclusivity Zones across the state in critical areas for local GSA clubs to meet, plan shared events, and be their own safe space.” - Charleston, West Virginia

💜 “We’ll host the Rainbow Youth Summit for LGBTQIA+ youth from across southern California to network, learn, and have fun in a safe, judgement free and supportive environment.” - Cathedral City, California

These students are truly the definition of making things better - you can see the rest of the amazing projects lined up across the country on our blog here!

[kuchipatch1]

yall have got to be more normal about Southern people and I'm not kidding. enough of the Sweet Home Alabama incest jokes, enough of the idea that all Southerners are bigots and rednecks, and enough of the idea that the South has bad food. shut up about "trailer trash" and our accents and our hobbies!

do yall know how fucking nauseating it is to hear people only bring up my state to make jokes about people in poverty and incestuous relationships? how much shame I feel that I wasn't born up north like the Good Queers and Good Leftists with all the Civilised Folk with actual houses instead of small cramped trailers that have paper thin walls that I know won't protect me in a bad enough storm?

do yall know how frustrating it is to be trans in a place that wants to kill you and whenever you bring it up to people they say "well just move out" instead of sympathizing with you or offering help?

do yall understand how alienating it is to see huge masterposts of queer and mental health resources but none of them are in your state because theyre all up north? and nobody seems to want to fix this glaring issue because "they're all hicks anyways"

Southern people deserve better. we deserve to be taken seriously and given a voice in the queer community and the mental health space and leftist talks in general.

[ncwsa]

Voting Now Open for 2024 Annual Award Nominees

Conducted by the Awards committee, a total of 116 nominations across all categories were submitted by peers. The top nominees are selected for the annual honors with a vote by the public in tandem with a board of directors vote. Congratulations to all the nominees for our annual awards! Check out the nominations below for NCWSA Outstanding Leader of the Year, NCWSA Athlete of the Year, and NCWSA…

[yotsubafanfan]

To the non-southerners who stick their nose up to us southerners may I say "Bless your heart" and you don't deserve bomb ass fried cat fish, hush puppies, Coke Cola, the warm oceans, and the beautiful Appalachian mountains y'all come to see.

white non-southerners on this site assume us southerners are trapped in inescapable desolate wastelands of illiteracy and poverty. I literally live in one of the cultural epicenters of the United States and I grew up around one of the most distinct African American communities in the country. some of you literally grew up in the segregated white suburbs where the spiciest thing around you was a Dunkin’ Donuts iced coffee that got a lil frothy in the car. like. look inwards people. my region might be a hellhole in its own way but at LEAST I didn’t grow up on casseroles and dad rock.

[nevermind-i-forgot-whats-that]

Sometimes, as much as I love internet communities and spaces, I really think a lot of people have spent so much time in sanitized, morally pure echo chambers that they lose sight of realism and life outside the internet.

I live in Alabama. My fiancée and I cannot hold hands down the street without fear of homophobic assholes. We have an abortion ban with no exceptions for rape or incest. We are one of the poorest states in the US with some of the lowest scores on metrics related to quality of life, including maternal mortality, healthcare, education, and violence. It’s not a coincidence that we are also one of the most red, one of the most Republican states in the Union. In 2017 the UN said the conditions in Alabama are similar to those in a third-world country.

Trump gave a voice to the most violently racist, sexist, xenophobic groups of people who, unfortunately for most of us in the Southern U.S., run our states and have only grown more powerful since his rise to power. The Deep South powers MAGA, and we all suffer for it.

We have no protections if they don’t come from the federal government.

I know people are suffering internationally and my heart is with them. However, this election is not just about foreign policy - we have millions of Americans right here at home living in danger, living in areas where they have been completely abandoned by their local leaders. We need this win.

No candidate is perfect, but for the first time in my voting lifetime I’m excited to vote. I’m excited for the Kamala Harris/Tim Walz ticket because they are addressing the issues close to home. They’re advocating for education as the ticket to a better life, but without the crippling student debt. They’re advocating for the right to love who you love without fear and with pride. Kamala has always been pro-LGBT+ and so has Tim. Again, if you’re queer in the South, we don’t have support unless it comes from the federal government, and we absolutely will not have support if the Republicans regain the White House.

Kamala speaks in length about re-entry programs to reduce recidivism and help people who have been arrested and imprisoned regain their lives. Tim Walz supported restoring voting rights to felons. In the South, you know who comprise the majority of felons? Members of minorities. It’s one of the major tools of systemic racism and mass disenfranchisement, and arguably the modern face of slavery (there are some fantastic documentaries and books that explain the connection between the post-Reconstruction South and the disproportionate rates of imprisonment for BIPOC). Having candidates who recognize this and want to restore the freedom and rights to people who have come into contact with the criminal justice system? And keep them from having to go to prison in the first place? That’s refreshing. That’s exciting.

I would *love* to live in a country where women’s rights are respected, where LGBT+ rights and protections are a given, where we treat former criminals and individuals experiencing mental health crises with respect and dignity. I would *love* to live in a country where education is free of religious interference and each and every citizen is entitled to a fair start and equal opportunities.

But I don’t live in that country. Millions and millions of Americans find their rights and freedoms up for debate and on the ballot.

Project 2025 poses the largest threat to the future of our democracy as we know it. We are being called to fight for the future of our country.

We have to put on our oxygen masks first before we can help others.

You don’t have moral purity when you wash your hands of the millions of us who are still fighting for own freedoms right here.

The reality is that a presidential candidate is a best fit, and not a perfect fit. But comparatively speaking? Kamala is pretty damn close.