West Chester - gay friendly? (Philadelphia, West Goshen: fit in, high school, place to live)

[Jen2131]

My partner may be taking a job in West Chester and we know little about the area other than it looks beautiful. We are going to be starting a family soon and a safe, accepting community is very important to us. Does anyone know if West Chester is a gay-friendly community? Thank you!
J

[Duderino]

Originally Posted by Jen2131

My partner may be taking a job in West Chester and we know little about the area other than it looks beautiful. We are going to be starting a family soon and a safe, accepting community is very important to us. Does anyone know if West Chester is a gay-friendly community? Thank you!
J

West Chester definitely has a liberal vibe, so I'd say you and your partner will fit in fine. I believe I even saw one church with a rainbow flag placed outside for a sign of acceptance to the gay community. Good luck with everything!

[ShadyTop]

You might want to consider Philadelphia. They now created a three block section in town dedicated to the gay community. You will notice rainbow signs on the corners, just above the name of the street.
That will let any punk or skinhead know where to go for some night life.

Me? I think it is bad to single any race, or sexual orientation, to a section of town just for them. It doesn't show solidarity ........ it shows a weakness.

But, then again, it is just an observation.

[debolina]

I don't think you'll have any problem in West Chester at all. I don't think it will even be an issue here.

[Jen2131]

Thanks for the input - it's very assuring. We went to visit West Chester this past weekend and the downtown is so charming. Looks like a wonderful place to live and raise a family. Oh, and I did see the rainbow stickers! One other question - how are the schools in West Chester? and surrounding towns? Thanks again everyone

[breadeater]

Schools in west chester are good. They recently built a new high school named after Bayard Rustin(openly gay civil rights activist of the 1960s).

[Wanna Leave Penciltucky]

West Chester is gay friendly and thank God for that. I live more south and it we could use some flavor in this berg.

[newmarlig]

Originally Posted by ShadyTop

You might want to consider Philadelphia. They now created a three block section in town dedicated to the gay community. You will notice rainbow signs on the corners, just above the name of the street.
That will let any punk or skinhead know where to go for some night life.

Me? I think it is bad to single any race, or sexual orientation, to a section of town just for them. It doesn't show solidarity ........ it shows a weakness.

But, then again, it is just an observation.

I know a lot of straight people who live on those blocks. Gays have always lived there, it's not as though the city designated the area and then moved gay people in.

As far a the original question - as you can see from other responses, West Chester will be fine. The name of their main street is Gay Street and while I know this has nothing to do with anything, I would bet that if the people there were homophobic they would have tried to change it.

[viking9070]

Only if you move into the borough of West Chester. If you move to any other township (West Goshen, East Goshen, Westtown, etc.), you will not be accepted.

[Duderino]

Originally Posted by viking9070

Only if you move into the borough of West Chester. If you move to any other township (West Goshen, East Goshen, Westtown, etc.), you will not be accepted.

Haha. Let's be honest - the Borough of West Chester isn't surrounded by rural Alabama. Can you elaborate as to why a gay couple "will not be accepted" in the townships mentioned above? The Philly area is undoubtedly the most socially liberal part of the state, and I've never heard of any notable exceptions in which residents would blatantly "not accept" a gay couple.