Help! Lesbian partners looking for place to call home in Pennsylvania (Washington: neighborhoods, good schools)
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Location: Expatriate Philadelphian in Northern Virginia
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WestSideGirl310
Have you visited the suburbs on the other side of the city in Bucks County. The New Hope area is very accepting and so is Lambertville, NJ which is right across the river from New Hope. Both areas are frequented by same sex couples plus many also reside in those towns.
Great suggestions although it would be quite a commute back to most job centers, particularly Center City.
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I would also second Collingswood, NJ. It is extremely proactive for the LGBT community and is home to many couples. The town also HAD a NJ Equality office but that seems to have closed due to cost. Kelly McGillis (Topgun, Witnesss) lives in town with her partner and "plans to stay", according to a recent interview. Transportation to the city is better than transportation in some city burbs like Mt. Airy, Manyunk and Media as the PATCO runs 24/7 and every 6 minutes in rush hour. If you decide to add kids, the schools are much better than anything the Phila. SChool District can offer.
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"Greetings from The City Of Brotherly Love!"
(set 21 days ago)
Location: University City, Philadelphia
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Have you considered University City in West Philly? It's a very LGBT friendly area, but it does have the feel of a "college town": lots of bookshops, cafes, inexpensive ethnic restaurants. Just a mile or two from Center City. Some areas - like much of Spruce Hill and Garden Court - are already pricey, but other neighborhoods are still affordable.
University City is a mid to late 19th Century "Streetcar Suburb" of Philly and full of Victorian homes every size and description. Gay and Lesbian couples have been a significant part of the restoration of this area. If you go to a meeting of the University City Historical Society you'll meet a lot of gay people. The MCC church meets in University City on Walnut Street; the local synagogue Congregation Kol Tzedek has a large percentage of LGBT people and it's female Rabbi was formally head of NYC's LGBT synagogue. I'm told the local Ethiopian restaurant Dahlak has a bar in the rear that is popular with Lesbians on a certain night of the week (you'll have to investigate this further).
Come to Collingswood! The schools are much better in NJ than PA. It's not filthy and ghetto out here (Outside of Camden). When my parents moved us out here, it was the best thing they could for for us.
Come to Collingswood! The schools are much better in NJ than PA. It's not filthy and ghetto out here (Outside of Camden). When my parents moved us out here, it was the best thing they could for for us.
Do the same if you want to raise children!
Quite a gross generalization.
While there are good schools all over the metro area, rankings suggest quite the opposite of that statement. Philadelphia Magazine's 2008 "The Top 50 School Districts" issue only shows 2 South Jersey school districts in the Top 30 of the region:
That's not to say that rankings are the end-all on authority, but by and large this region's best public schools are to the west of the Delaware River.
Collingswood schools are"excellent" with an asterix. That rates from the K-8 level. When you get into the HS, you add the sending districts outside of the town. This is an agreement made by Collingswood to accept students from Woodlyne who by geographic, SHOULD be going to Camden. When you get into this addition, the discipline problems increase and the academic prowess (on paper) decreases. I hope this doesn't take a bad turn as the facts speak for themselves as it was explained in detail in a previous thread (not by me) and I took the time to read into it.
It is commonly known that students who should be going to Camden clearly fake addresses in Woodlyne (relatives) to attend Collingswood for sports, etc.; I'm not telling tells out of school. This happens all over NJ, by the way.
Like all schools, your child will be successful if YOU as a parent are involved in every aspect of their school lives. period.
That aside, you will love Collingswood if kids aren't in the mix or are in the plan. The town is home to many GLB people with , I believe an emphasis on the L! Check out the website.
West Mt. Airy is fantastic, and really diverse and welcoming. At one point, I was with a friend at High Point Cafe (a coffee shop) and there were far more lesbians than straight people there. It's great. There used to be a gay moms group, and they have a co-op for fresh fruits/veggies. However, I would never move into this city if you have kids, unless you intend to send them to private school. The Quaker-based "friends" schools are fantastic, and there are other private schools as well.
I agree with another writer that you may think about Lambertville, NJ or New Hope, PA. Both are very gay friendly, have solid schools, and you'll feel comfortable.
Great places as well. If you want proximity to the city, you actually are "closer" in Collingswood...Of course, NJ property taxes are what they are! Good luck...
Have you considered University City in West Philly? It's a very LGBT friendly area, but it does have the feel of a "college town": lots of bookshops, cafes, inexpensive ethnic restaurants. . .
University City is a mid to late 19th Century "Streetcar Suburb" of Philly and full of Victorian homes every size and description. Gay and Lesbian couples have been a significant part of the restoration of this area. If you go to a meeting of the University City Historical Society you'll meet a lot of gay people. The MCC church meets in University City on Walnut Street; the local synagogue Congregation Kol Tzedek has a large percentage of LGBT people and it's female Rabbi was formally head of NYC's LGBT synagogue.. . .
I'd say Univ. City toward the Clark Park and probably including Clark Park are more open to LGBT. I don't know about Drexel now, but there were some issues about a decade ago with Drexel students and LGBT crowds in that particular neck of the woods.
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"Greetings from The City Of Brotherly Love!"
(set 21 days ago)
Location: University City, Philadelphia
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chessimprov
I'd say Univ. City toward the Clark Park and probably including Clark Park are more open to LGBT. I don't know about Drexel now, but there were some issues about a decade ago with Drexel students and LGBT crowds in that particular neck of the woods.
I am aware there was a problem with some Drexel University frat boys ripping down a "Rainbow Flag" in the Powelton Village neighborhood once upon a time ... but that ages ago ... ancient history. I think all of University City is quite LGBT friendly nowadays. However, this neck of the woods - Spruce Hill, Cedar Park, and Garden Court - is a very attractive area for anyone in the LGBT community to live in.
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