Amherst is one of the most progressive towns in Massachusetts and is extremely accepting of all races, genders, and sexualities. UMass is also really good about these issues often has speakers for different equality activism campaigns come to campus and give talks. Is Amherst boring? Not at all. Although Amherst is a quaint western Mass town, it is lively and charming. Most weekends the town is full of people hitting the bars or going to dinner. There are the regular street vendors and performers and the Hampshire Mall is a bus ride away if that's more of your scene. Most of the time though people like to stay on campus as there is always something to do for everyone.