NC: intolerance emerges in the Outer Banks as it plans its Pride celebration

I've been to the Outer Banks of North Carolina several times, including a memorable stay in beautiful Corolla, to climb up the lighthouse at Currituck, and when you could see the wild ponies (when they were still able to walk free in the town). It has always been an open and welcome community, but apparently the prospect of holding a family-friendly Pride event has stirred up the bigots.

Though the town of Nags Head is not advertising the event on its website, Mayor Bob Oakes supports it. His company, Village Realty, is even a sponsor for the event. He tells NewsChannel 3 Nags Head is known for its hospitality - they welcome everyone.

But that's not making headlines. Instead, the focus is on the drama between supporters and protestors.

"We're not pushing an agenda, we're not recruiting people," said John Toll, supporter.

But of course, the haters (some probably not even residents) of the LGBT population are leaving comments like this:

One Craig's List post states: "Hopefully someone will crash the party with an AK", referring to an AK-47.

Another post states: "Stop trying to convince us of your 'normalcy'. Stop destroying the values of decency, and stop flaunting your degenerate lifestyle in front of us."

...Tom and Amy Breiner spend summers on the Outer Banks. They say it's not about being afraid. They simply do not approve of how homosexuals live their lives.

"We're not hateful towards them, we don't have to agree. Yeah, we're not hateful."

"We will bring our grandkids and we don't want them around that. You know we will have to explain, they're at that age where they ask. Well I'll tell them the truth, but I don't want to be around it."

One resident, Paula Brooks, emailed me:

This is MY HOME.... My twins were born here.... My beloved wife's ashes are on those beaches... this could not be MORE about family to me...Hate has no place in the OBX.

These are MY Outer Banks as well, as a native North Carolinian, and I don't appreciate bigots -- native or parachuting in for holiday -- trying to cleanse or hide the diversity there. And thank you Village Realty for supporting Pride and the real Outer Banks spirit.

H/t, LezGetReal.