Following the 1979 National March for Gay and Lesbian Rights, representatives from these groups met for the first time in Washington, DC.īy 1980, PFLAG began to distribute information to educational institutions and communities of faith nationwide, establishing itself as a source of information for the general public. In the next years, through word of mouth and community need, similar groups sprang up around the country, offering safe haven and mutual support for parents with gay and lesbian children. The first formal meeting took place in March 1973 at a local church. After many gay and lesbian people asked her to talk to their parents, she decided to begin a support group.

The idea for PFLAG began in 1972 when Jeanne Manford marched with her gay son in New York’s Pride Day parade.