Given the deep bias against LGBT in the South, I also don't get the paradox. Why do they go all out to make their male children look as beautiful as they can. According to the pictures, people spare no expense to get their boys to win!
Like Katey, I'm hoping that some members who were raised in that culture will shed some light.
So far, the explanation that makes most sense to me is Katey's ... that doing this proves it won't affect their 'manliness'? Or, maybe there's an under-the-radar streak running through this culture, not unlike in ancient Greece, where it was common for young boys to 'pretty up' for older male mentors even though it was not approved if done too overtly, promiscuously, or for money.If there's a shred of truth to my conjecture (the possibility of there being a number of older males who like young boys as long as they don't look like boys), it may explain why Southerners protest so much against LGBT.
