Is Lewisburg PA Gay-Friendly? (Scranton, Harrisburg: hotel, home, buy)

[Brianne17]

I am considering a new job that would relocate my girlfriend and me from the Washington DC area to Lewisburg, PA.

Can anyone give feedback on what that area is like? We are pretty laid back low key folks and are looking for a nice quiet place to settle down and buy a house.

If not Lewisburg proper -- any recommendations for gay-friendly towns in the area (or around Harrisburg)?

Thanks!

[go phillies]

Lewisburg is a college town...I would assume its a pretty open-minded town.

[BLUEDIAMOND64]

I do not know about Lewisburg, but Milford certainly is and advertises it. There was a feature article, I believe in the NY times about Milford.

[ScranBarre]

You might want to check out my http://www.city-data.com/forum/penns...hoto-tour.html for more of a visual into this picturesque college town. I'm an openly-gay male myself, and during my visit to Lewisburg I didn't notice any signs of hostility. If anything, I'd say the town is left-leaning, judging by the funky shops and the fact that there were a lot of Mini Coopers, Priuses, VW Beetles, PT Cruisers, and other "hip" vehicles in and around town. The surrounding countryside is very rural and agricultural, but Lewisburg definitely seemed to have a liberal infusion from Bucknell University. There didn't seem to be much of a "gay nightlife" in Lewisburg, but the community isn't terribly far from Harrisburg, which has a much larger open LGBT community.

Milford, as was referenced by TheHighHat, is also home to a growing population of both artists and gays/lesbians. It is only a little under two hours to Manhattan in case you and your partner ever get the itch to hit up Greenwich Village. Be advised though that the cost-of-living in Milford is more expensive than it is in Lewisburg. I happen to live in Pittston, PA, which is midway between Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, and while I have yet to be hunted down by a lynch mob, there is certainly a "resentment" against gays/lesbians felt in our community. Also be advised that Lewisburg and Milford are also home to more literate and well-educated populations, which I feel enhances their tolerance levels, whereas many communities in the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys are blue-collar, poorly-educated, and have a lot of residents who are spiteful of what they haven't experienced before or of what they don't understand.

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by TheHighHat

I do not know about Lewisburg, but Milford certainly is and advertises it. There was a feature article, I believe in the NY times about Milford.

Yes. The magazine Budget Traveler also rated Milford as one of the "Ten Coolest Small Towns in America." I think the town is adorable, but I was bored after spending just a few hours there. Once you've been to the Grey Towers and sauntered around the few blocks of the downtown area you end up asking yourself "is this it?"

[scrantonluna]

Originally Posted by ScrantonWilkesBarre

I'd say the town is left-leaning, judging by the funky shops and the fact that there were a lot of Mini Coopers, Priuses, VW Beetles, PT Cruisers, and other "hip" vehicles in and around town.

SWB, I think you create just as many stereotypes as you destroy around here...

[WasPA]

It's about 180 miles from Lewisburg to Manhattan or about three hours in good traffic-- clear sailing across the GW Bridge just to set the record straight. You'd have to go 90 mph between the two places to make it in two hours. I wouldn't recommend it....heh.

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by scrantonluna

SWB, I think you create just as many stereotypes as you destroy around here...

I can quite honestly say I have yet to meet a right-wing individual who drives a Mini Cooper, VW Beetle, etc. I'm not saying that there aren't "funky" Republicans amongst us, but from my personal experiences everyone who I've ever met who has driven these eclectic cars has been eccentric themselves. I'm sorry that you take offense to that, especially when I take "quirky" to be a compliment.

[BLUEDIAMOND64]

Hey ScrantonWilkesBarre,

Thanks for the backup on my post. Milford advertises that it is openly gay friendly. Some business establishments are owned by by gays. The Hotel Frauchere has the Bar Louis that advertises itself as a gay bar. You are absoultely right about Milford having a well-educated population.

The Hat

[BLUEDIAMOND64]

Hey ScrantonWilkesBarrey,

Your comment about "is this it" cracked me up and it is so true. The weekends in Milford are out of control - people all over the place. They remind me of the tourists in Manhattan always looking up! But actually that is great for local business and also great to be a place that has a lot of interest.

Chris