Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) formed amid national social movements whose leaders challenge oppression rooted in missionary ideology that considers humans to be drawn to the same value bases. The journey to organization [Page 1076]for PFLAG began when Jeanne Manford, a retired mother and school teacher in New York City, attended the 1972 annual gay pride parade in support of her son. Manford and parents like her wanted to form a community of interest, not only to support the children they loved but to serve as a catalyst for activism, designed to codify the dignity and integrity of their children in the laws of the United States.