Come for a visit, two days and nights at least. Crime has never been an issue for me living in East Passyunk, the Cedar Park/Spruce Hill area of West Philly, or CC/Rittenhouse. You’d be just fine up in Fishtown/Northern Liberties too. Crime exists, and is on an upswing like it is everywhere in the US, but there’s a reason media/police unions/right wing officials tend to emphasize law and order during election years and that might be driving a lot of the negative Philly press you’re seeing. As far as arts and culture go, there’s plenty for both mainstream and alt scenes. Can’t speak too well on the LGBTQ scene, but I have trans friends that live in west philly and south Philly quite comfortably. And there’s always the gayborhood. If you want to check out the burbs, I’d say take a look at Media and Swarthmore to the West or some of the Jersey burbs like Collingswood to the East.