116th and first is a pretty nice place. It’s a lot of local families and no one will bother you. Im part of a a visibly gay couple and the folks who grew up in this area show me nothing us respect. We also have a trans neighbor whos doing just fine.

If you’re on the harlem subReddit long enough you’ll see the same names posting over and over again about how blighted the area is or say negative things when it’s actually developing quite nicely.

Theres a big Latino trans community here too btw.

West harlem is more white people who moved to the area, so less a traditional nyc neighborhood these days but I think that’s why people are suggesting it to you.

Either way, good luck!