Manford, Jeanne

Jeanne Manford, mother of gay rights activist Morty Manford, is best known as co-founder of the first support group for parents of gay children. Know as Parents of Gays (POG), it was the predecessor to PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays).

Manford had always supported her son, gay activist Morty Manford, but became active on behalf of gay rights after the police failed to intervene while he was kicked and beaten during a Gay Activists Alliance demonstration in April 1972. She wrote a letter to the editor of the New York Post, which was published in the April 29, 1972 issue, expressing her outrage at the incident. In that letter she also stated, "I have a homosexual son and I love him." The statement sparked much public response and drew attention to violence against gays.

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