Kentucky girl here (OK, I only live here. I'm from California, but this is the longest time I've ever lived in one city before). I feel probably the same weird sense of fear about the south that you do. I live in Lexington, and I'm told it's pretty accepting, but I'm a bit of a hermit so I don't get out enough to test the waters.
Maybe I'm just stereotyping them, but true southerners scare the bajeezes out of me. Someone pulls up next to me in a truck with far too much camouflage and a ratty old hat, I stiffen up, stay still and look straight ahead so as not to attract too much attention.
Call me crazy though, because I can't wait to finally start hormones and see what kinds of reactions I can get.
I may be a tad bit sadistic...