gay marriage is a huge debacle here right now, lots of people higher up opposing it. but in their defense they were born in the late 40s in alabama so that shit is super ingrained. alabama however is surprisingly progressive in individual sects, and there is a huge enough of an uprising in the positive direction that has made it not so much of a big deal to the people that are still residing in the past.
also: a local entirely homosexual dance crew that i have met was on tosh.0 recently so that also puts things in context.
cops do not pepper spray people down here. all of the cops in my very small city are ex military and some of them do the local mma fights both as promoters and contenders. and this city is so small that we have way too many cops so therefore all crime here is pretty random and force is rarely used. i mean i'm not saying it's never happened but you know we have like three stoplights.
another addendum: the south here in alabama is more concentrated than other places in the south. new orleans and the like are quite different and more spread out/sporadic so in response to the police shit, my view is based solely on where i'm at atm. we have a large black percentage in our police and political forces here so, also a black mayor, we're pretty chill. other places in the south are quite horrific.