How A Movement To Support Gay Children Began with One Mom

KQED's Forum

KQED

Politics, News, News Commentary

4.6 • 656 Ratings

🗓️ 13 April 2023

⏱️ 56 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Jeanne Manford was an elementary school teacher and hardly an activist. But she had a gay son, Morty, who she loved fiercely. In 1972, the two of them walked together in a New York City gay pride parade, and Manford held a sign that read “Parents of Gays: Unite In Support for Our Children.” It was a revolutionary act. At that time same-sex attraction was classified as a mental illness, and “homosexual acts” were illegal in 49 states. But Manford insisted on publicly loving and accepting her son, and with her husband Jules and son, she founded an organization inviting other parents to do the same. That organization, Parents, Family, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays or PFLAG celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. We look at the impact these families’ activism has had and we hear from you. What does it mean to support those you love? What does it take? Guests: Kathryn Schulz, staff writer, New Yorker. Schulz's most recent piece for the New Yorker, "How One Mother’s Love for Her Gay Son Started a Revolution," chronicles the founding of PFLAG. Schulz is also the author of "Lost & Found: A Memoir" Avril Swan, granddaughter of PFLAG founder Jeanne Manford. Swan is a physician and practices in San Francisco Lilith Rose, former executive director and current program director, San Francisco PFLAG chapter Susan Thronson, board president, PFLAG National Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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0:43.8	From KQED.
1:00.0	From KQD in San Francisco, I'm Alexis Madrigal.
1:06.8	The year is 1972, and homosexual acts were illegal in 49 states.
1:19.0	There were many avenues leading from then to now, but one important route for the empowerment of the queer community begins with school teacher Gene Manford, marching with her son Morty during the Christopher Street Liberation Day March.
1:25.8	She held a sign that read parents of gays unite in support for our children, and it was a revolutionary act.
1:30.0	Manford insisted on publicly loving her son and founded an organization now known as P-flag inviting other parents to do the same. 50 years later, we look at
1:36.2	the impact these families activism has had. That's all coming up next after this news.
1:49.2	Welcome to Forum.
1:50.5	I'm Alexis Madrigo.
1:55.4	This show was inspired by a new feature in the New Yorker magazine by Catherine Schultz, which details the way that Gene and Morty Manford established a powerful social and political organization
	...

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