Don't be afraid to show the world that not all southerners are right wing. I am prideful of my southern heritage while at the same time embracing others and celebrating theirs. I'll never be ashamed of my drawl/accent and if other people choose to look down on me, well, that sounds like their loss.

I avoid it because my schools would not allow it's use because "it's slang and not a word." Same with "ain't."

I'm a Southern transplant living in New England for the last couple decades and I've never thought of "y'all" as being indicative of right-wingedness. I use it all the time and it doesn't feel like anyone thinks anything of it.