PFLAG Turns 50

Fifty years ago, a Queens schoolteacher whose son was gay created the first support group for families and friends of LGBTQ people. The support group is now known as PFLAG. We missed the exact anniversary of the first meeting, on March 26, 1973, but we are honoring the occasion now during Pride month.

The founder of the support group was Jeanne Manford.

Her son Morty was already known as an advocate for gay rights. In 1971, he had asked Columbia University, where he was enrolled, to create a lounge for gay students. (The university turned down the request.)

Jeanne and Morty Manford walked together in the 1972 Christopher Street Liberation Day March, the forerunner of the Pride Parade. She carried a sign that read “Parents of Gays: Unite in Support for Our Children.” The sign struck a chord with many parade-goers. From their comments, Jeanne Manford realized she could help other families.

The Church of the Village (then called the Duane United Methodist Church) provided a space for Manford to hold a support group for parents, other family members, and friends of gay people. About twenty people attended the first meeting. A plaque on the church marks the historic event.

PFLAG has grown astronomically since then, with hundreds of chapters in the United States alone. Its mission has expanded beyond support to include education and advocacy for LGBTQ people and their families.