News (USA)

New York names Queens street after pioneering gay rights family

New York names Queens street after pioneering gay rights family

NEW YORK — A street in the Flushing neighborhood of Queens has been named in honor of the founder of PFLAG and her family.

Officials have formally designated 171st Street between 33rd and 35th Avenues as “Jeanne, Jules, Morty Manford PFLAG Way,” reports the Western Queens Gazette.

via Twitter, Daniel Dromm Councilmember Daniel Dromm (center) and and Councilmember Paul Vallone (center, left) are joined by Manford family members and other former and current elected officials at the naming ceremony on April 26.
via Twitter, Daniel Dromm
Councilmember Daniel Dromm (center) and and Councilmember Paul Vallone (second from left) are joined by Manford family members and other former and current elected officials at the naming ceremony on April 26.

In 1972, Jeanne Manford broke ground when she marched with her gay son, Morty, in the New York City Pride March. She was the first parent to publicly support a gay child.

Later, Jeanne and Jules Manford founded a support group for parents of gays and lesbians, which evolved in the national organization of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), a movement that now has more than 350 chapters and 200,000 members worldwide.

“The Manfords stood up for true family values of love and acceptance,” said New York city council member Daniel Dromm.

“I am proud to have known such a courageous family and to have worked closely with Jeanne and Morty. My hope is this co-naming will not only honor the Manfords, but encourage all New Yorkers to stand up for equality,” he said.

Don't forget to share:

Support vital LGBTQ+ journalism

Reader contributions help keep LGBTQ Nation free, so that queer people get the news they need, with stories that mainstream media often leaves out. Can you contribute today?

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated

Uganda to criminalize intentional HIV transmission

Previous article

Fla. man sentenced in shooting of transgender woman he met on Craigslist

Next article