©2005: PFLAG Hartford

A Bit of PFLAG History

"We Love Our Gay Children" read the sign carried proudly in 1972 by Jeanne Manford as she marched in New York City's Gay Pride parade. Along the entire parade route she was showered with tears and hugs. This mom's experience planted the seeds that created a new kind of parents' group - a safe space where parents, families and allies could meet and provide support and information to counter myths and misinformation about sexual orientation and gender identity. Thus, Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) was launched - a national grassroots organization based in Washington D.C. with over 250,000 members and supporters and over 500 chapters, located in all 50 states and dedicated to creating a society which is respectful of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities.

PFLAG Hartford is Formed

In 1981, Helen and Bob Brill formed PFLAG Hartford, the second chapter of PFLAG in Connecticut. Meetings were small and held for the first year at the Quaker Meeting House in West Hartford. Immanuel Congregational church has been the home for our meetings for the past 20 years, and we now have over 80 members. We are a group of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and intersex people, parents, families and friends. We work within the greater Hartford area for affirming families, safe schools, inclusive faith communities and informed lawmakers.

Our Mission -- PFLAG promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons, their families and friends through: support, to cope with an adverse society; education, to enlighten an ill-informed public; and advocacy, to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays provides opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity, and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity.

Our Vision -- We, the parents, families and friends of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered persons, celebrate diversity and envision a society that embraces everyone, including those of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. Only with respect, dignity and equality for all will we reach our full potential as human beings, individually and collectively. PFLAG welcomes the participation and support of all who share in, and hope to realize this vision.