Throwaway account, New Englander here and quite frankly I think the Midwest is politically and socially backwards and I do not want anything to do with your part of the country. I have the same feelings about the South. Politically you're still debating the merits of gay marriage in many of your states and thankfully only because of the courts are you being forced to accept it as a legitimate thing. Too much religion…
See how the folks in rural Maine feel about gay marriage - I'll point out that 47% of voters in 2012 were opposed which on the surface sure doesn't seem too different to me than the 46% of Ohioans apposed as of last polling in 2014.
I'd bet I'd find remarkably similar polling in Ohio, Maine, Vermont or New Hampshire about gun rights too.
When it comes down to it, the conservatives have lost the war they might not realize it yet, but history is on the side of those for equality and equitable treatment.
As for the culture comments? You're just a snob, but that very nearly goes without saying.