Lancaster? Gettysburg? (Harrisburg, Franklin, Mars: home, top school, university)

[TerriGernell]

Okay so I am a bisexual african american female college student and i was just wondering how liberal are Lancaster, PA and Gettysburg, PA. Franklin and Marshall and Gettysburg College are both options for school for me and i was wondering what the nightlife is like there and the liberal open minded community is like there. is it fairly open and accepting or really strict and conservative?
Thanks for your time.

[maf763]

You might do better asking in the Pennsylvania forum. I have only visited both places and can't give you much detail, but Lancaster is a much bigger town than Gettysburg, and as such, probably has more to do in the community. A big part of Gettysburg revolves around visitors to the battlefield, while Lancaster seems to have more of local community feel to it, art galleries, bars, etc.

I'm a hetero middle-aged white male, so chances are my experiences would be different than yours regarding judging how open minded people may be in these communities, so I can't help you there.

[TerriGernell]

thanks for your honesty and advice

[cattusbabe]

Straight AA female.

Originally Posted by TerriGernell

Okay so I am a bisexual african american female college student and i was just wondering how liberal are Lancaster, PA and Gettysburg, PA.

Short answer. Not at all.




Franklin and Marshall and Gettysburg College are both options for school for me and i was wondering what the nightlife is like there

Short answer. Non-existent.



and the liberal open minded community is like there. is it fairly open and accepting or really strict and conservative?

Short answer: Strict and conservative.
Thanks for your time.

It is a beautiful part of Pa and my husband and I (an BW/WM IRR couple) have spent a lot of time there with no problem but these are rural communities so the bi deal may be a bit of a challenge for you.

[TerriGernell]

Thanks! That's pretty much what i figured

[CCG2015]

The Strait A Female ladies answers in red are 100% correct.

Im a Lanc. native. and unfortunately still live here. Lanc is not liberal at all. in fact its the polar opposite. we have no night life to speak of, most things to do are family oriented and most places close by 10:00 except a cpl of 24 hr grocery stores. wouldnt want to upset the locals..lol. there are small corner bar type places and veterans clubs where ppl go to drink but they're not places you would go out of your way to visit. plus, if you're not from there you wont see a lot of mingling. ppl here tend to keep to their own little groups and cliques. it may be different on campus but I doubt it. F & M is a top school but make sure you're coming here just for the education b/c you won't find much of a life outside of that. I dont mean that in a doom and gloom way it's just the way things are here.

Also, there are 2 bars in town (lanc city) that are 'known' to be gay bars (not openly identified as such tho). one is mostly gay men the other gay women and thats about all I know about that scene. You're more than likely to find like minded and more liberal ppl in the city than anywhere else but even that is hard to find b/c most that are are not open about it. We're not all super religious or conservative but Id say most are.

I have no clue about Getty tho, I know it's a nice place to visit.

[justaguy420]

Omg. I really hope I'm not too late!

The lanc native obviously lives in the outskirts because Lancaster City is smaller but DENSE and vibrant!!! No night life? Yeah right! It is thriving with bars/clubs/concert venues catering to both straight and gay crowds! The Belvedere is a hopping spot for the gay/lesbian community. Do yourself a favor and check out Lancaster city.

[JettaPA]

The OP is asking for college right? If so, you wouldn't have any problem at F&M or Gettysburg I would think. The answers above are dead on if you were looking to settle down and live there, but being in college and around college students 95% of the time, you wouldn't have any problems with the "strict, conservative" lifestyles of the general public over 40 years of age. You'd find more of what you are looking for at F&M though.

[bluecarebear]

Harrisburg is going to be the most open minded but the region is very conservative in general. The best choice is to get as close to Philly as possible.

[jag12]

Totally agree on Lancaster City...check it out! I am in a same-sex marriage and own a home in Lancaster city...and we haven't faced any issues. We've actually met a LOT of gay people here - mostly guys, interestingly enough.

I get the impression while the "county" of Lancaster is very conservative, the city of Lancaster is just the opposite. F&M is located in the west end (as is where I live), and while I can't speak to the University, the community itself seems pretty open to me.