Our History
How did PFLAG come to be?
PFLAG began in 1972 when Jeanne Manford publicly supported her gay son, Morty, after he was attacked at a protest. Her heartfelt letter to the New York Post and appearance in the 1972 Pride march with a sign reading “Parents of Gays: Unite in Support of Our Children” sparked a powerful reaction from the LGBTQ+ community, inspiring her to create a space for supportive parents.
In 1973, Jeanne and her husband, Jules, held the first meeting of what would then become PFLAG. Since the initial meeting in New York City, similar groups began forming nationwide. By 1981, leaders organized a national structure, and in 1982, the Federation of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays was officially incorporated, laying the foundation for today’s PFLAG.
PFLAG is now the nation’s largest organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them.
In a similar story to PFLAG’s own founding, PFLAG Acworth/Dallas also started with a letter. On March 16, 2024, a mother (who would eventually become the chapter president) emailed PFLAG National with hopes of creating a supportive, action-driven, resource for the Acworth-Dallas area.
After a year of hard work in the making, with others joining the crusade along the way, PFLAG Acworth-Dallas launched. On March 23, 2025, almost exactly 52 years after Jeanne and Jules held their first meeting, PFLAG Acworth/Dallas had the privilege of holding its first-ever support group.
Since this initial meeting, our chapter has hosted regular monthly meetings and has established an additional monthly support group centered around the trans members of our chapter.