I disagree. Whatever her reasons, she is entitled to them. People have a right to be wrong.
Not many years ago I was working with a physician out on the west coast. He was born in New Mexico but spent most of his life in California. He also happened to be gay.
I was at dinner with him and partner, Randy. Over conversations at dinner, Randy asked me “So where are you from?” My response “Alabama, more specifically Birmingham”.
Randy responded “no originally…”
“Birmingham born and raised…”
Randy states “I find that surprising. You seem much too ENLIGHTENED to be from Alabama…”
I paused for a moment said “Randy..you would probably also be surprised to find most folks in Alabama stopped “biting the heads off chickens and marrying their cousins several generations ago”
Not being able to leave it alone I chuckled and said “And I guess you gave up on the dream of moving up north to San Francisco and becoming the next great Liza Minnelli impersonator?”
After an awkward pause, we all started laughing. Randy said “Touche’…I deserved that”.
No harm. No foul.
People sometimes develop ideas and notions about other people and other places because it gives them the only way they can comfortably “process it”. Doesn’t necessarily have to be correct, as long as it gives them some “comfort”.
I know I’m not immune to it. I probably have a lot of preconceived ideas and notions that, if I explored deeper, are probably wrong.