I have plans to visit Asheville in a couple of weeks. However, recent events are making me reconsider. I was dismayed at the recent backwards-looking vote in NC to change its constitution and guarantee that gay citizens will be treated unequally. Frankly, I began having doubts that I wanted to spend my money in a place where people could be so mean. Yesterday I read an article about NC Pastor Charles Worley, who preached a solution worthy of Nazis -- round up gay citizens and imprison them behind electric wire until they die.

I have traveled worldwide and seen many different places and cultures, some of which are quite alien to Americans, and some of which are also intolerant. However, while I can tolerate a certain level of intolerance abroad, I realize I am more disturbed when I discover it in my own country and backyard. For my vacation plans, the timing of this NC vote was terrible. The recent outpouring of hate and bigotry is so fresh, I find I cannot help debating myself whether I should change my plans and avoid NC, at least for now.

I generally avoid anonymous political discourse, especially on discussion boards like this one, but I decided to break from my usual pattern and ask this question anyway as I debate my vacation plans.

Any thoughts?

Asheville is still a wonderful place to visit.

Asheville is beautiful and the town is quite open.

First, there are bigots everywhere. So, unless you never want to leave your house, you can't let that be the deciding factor. It's usually the "crazies" that get all the attention. There is always some crazy guy out there saying awful things in the name of religion that makes the news during hot button issues. Asheville also isn't necessarily represented by the rest of the state regarding the recent vote. I find Asheville to be quite gay friendly, if that is important to you. More importantly, Asheville is full of people who are friendly to everyone...regardless.

The area is quite lovely and I don't find Asheville or anyone I have met there to be intolerant at all. I visit there often and always enjoy it. Don't miss out. I will be there next week on business and again in August to visit with friends.

I understand your concerns exactly. I had the opportunity to visit South Africa under Apartheid and refused to go. I wasn;t contemplating visiting NC anyway - but this would defintiely cause me to add it to the list of "no go" states - along with those who seem to want to arrest people for just being tan.

Though I sympathize with your point of view and the questions you are facing, travelinglightly, I think that this topic really belongs in the Fodorite Lounge, and not in this forum.

maybe you can check out the thread posted by starrs in the Fodorite Louonge - note it's another victory for racism and bigotry in North Carolina, of all things a KKK rally.

http://pamshouseblend.firedoglake.co...ts-front-page/

Hello travelinglightly - I spent 28 years of my life at UNC Asheville (as a staff member, not a student ;-) and you should visit the campus. As others have said, Asheville is a very open city. While the county of Buncombe is conservative I find most people have a "live and let live" attitude.

As for the campus, I think everyone will find it very welcoming. The faculty and staff are very friendly. The classes are tough but the instructors are very helpful.

I was born and raised in NC and I too have very strong convictions. I think only you can decide if it would seem like you are compromising your principles by going. Asheville is a wonderful place to visit. I think it will change at some point, since we've been through stuff like this before.

I'd say go, enjoy yourself, and don't assume that everyone you deal with supports the votes you disagree with. Many great people in NC (I'm not from there and have never lived there, but have visited many times). If you limit yourself to going places that only share your views you will miss out on a lot.

I agree with Challiman.

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Bingo!

If you are going to boycott states that ban same sex marriage, your travels around the US will be pretty limited.

However, while I can tolerate a certain level of intolerance abroad, I realize I am more disturbed when I discover it in my own country and backyard.

Totally get that. Lack of attachment sometimes allows me to see travel a bit anthropologically. Simply a viewer to something in the world very foreign to me. But yeah, it's hard to accept that where you're from is also so mystifying. And it's harder to find that sense of separation and distance when it's "home". For me, I have a harder time accepting and participating in the normal flow of tourism and economics when I feel the "wrongness" of it is partly my responsibility (by being a voting member of the place) and that I should be doing *something*, even if I'm not quite sure what that something is. This, for me, feels quite different than foreign travel.

So, for now, I personally wouldn't be including NC or Arizona in my list of places in my next "see America" visit and am ok with it being "my loss"

Couldn't agree more with Clifton. Lovely place, but I certainly won't spend a dime there, at least until the vote actually occurs. Once the vote happens, I may reconsider, depending upon the results.

I always wondered why neighboring states don't take advantage of the controversies in other states (assuming they too don't have these laws) and advertise they are welcoming to every citizen to come see our state.

apersuader, to what vote do you allude? Amendment One to the NC Constitution defining marriage as between one man and one woman (at a time, apparently) passed overwhelmingly two weeks ago. Disgrace is too kind a word.

apersuader.....if one disagrees with NC to the point of not traveling there, I don't think heading to VA, SC, GA & TN is the answer.

That's essentially leaving the frying pan to jump into the fire (as we say in the south).

Travelinglightly,

No, you shouldn't visit Asheville. You should only visit places where people aren't allowed to vote or express opinions that differ from yours - although that does narrow it down. Maybe just stay inside your own home so, like Cher, you won't have to breath the same air as "those" people.

Seriously, listen to yourself. Are you really so parochial you can only visit a place where everyone agrees with you on every issue? And your reason would be what? That "they" are intolerant.

I've visited places where people live under communist dictatorships, places where insulting certain historic (and dead) leaders is a jailable offense, and places where revealing my true football loyalties would earn me an arse-kicking.

Visiting these places has enriched our lives. One hopes that they are now better places for having hosted me and mine.

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Impressive how you managed to work Cher into this discussion.

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If that is the criteria, you may well want to steer clear of: Alaska, Nevada, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Oregon, Colorado, Tennessee, Arizona, Nebraska, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentuicky, Louisiana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Utah, Kansas, Texas, Alabama, Idaho, South Carolina, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Florida, Michigan and Virginia. Almost forgot about California.

Your domestic travels should be contained to the Northeast and Iowa.

tom42: Impressive how you managed to work Cher into this discussion.

You say impressive. I'd say... fabulous.