When Jeanne Manford's son Morty was beaten by New York City officials for handing out pro-gay leaflets, she wrote a powerful letter to the New York Post to complain about how Morty was treated. In the letter, she came out as the mother of a gay son. The letter was published. Morty invited his mother to march with him in the June 1972 Christopher Street Parade. While marching, she had the idea to form a group to help parents and families of LGBTQ+ people. That was the beginning of PFLAG.