IV 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 611 

Honoring the life of Jeanne Sobelson Manford for her fierce advocacy on 

behalf of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community 

as they and their allies celebrate Pride month during the month of 

June, reflect on the progress made towards equality, and remember 

activists like Jeanne who spent their lives fighting for their rights. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 2, 2014 

Mr. CROWLEY (for himself, Ms. SPEIER, Mr. LOWENTHAL, Mr. MCDERMOTT, 

Mr. ISRAEL, Mr. POCAN, Ms. KUSTER, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Ms. 

VELA ́ZQUEZ, Mr. HIGGINS, Mr. LEVIN, Ms. SHEA-PORTER, Mr. 

CICILLINE, Mrs. DAVIS of California, Mr. MCGOVERN, Ms. MENG, Ms. 

MCCOLLUM, Mr. MICHAUD, Mr. KILMER, Mr. KILDEE, Mr. NADLER, Mr. 

PETERS of California, Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York, Mr. 

GRIJALVA, Mr. HUFFMAN, Mr. POLIS, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. CONNOLLY, Mr. HONDA, Mr. SERRANO, Mr. TAKANO, and Ms. SINEMA) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 

the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Honoring the life of Jeanne Sobelson Manford for her fierce 

advocacy on behalf of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and 

transgender (LGBT) community as they and their allies 

celebrate Pride month during the month of June, reflect 

on the progress made towards equality, and remember 

activists like Jeanne who spent their lives fighting for 

their rights. 


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•HRES 611 IH 

Whereas Jeanne Sobelson Manford was born in Queens, New 

York, on December 4, 1920, to Charles and Sadie 

Sobelson; 

Whereas she earned her bachelor’s degree from the City University of New York’s Queens College and became an elementary school teacher at P.S. 32; 

Whereas she married her husband Jules Manford and had 

three children Charles, Morty, and Suzanne; 

Whereas in April 1972, her openly gay son Morty was beaten 

during a gay rights protest; 

Whereas in the aftermath of her son’s beating Jeanne, together with her husband Jules, became a staunch advocate of LGBT rights; 

Whereas while marching in one of New York City’s first 

Pride parades, known as the Christopher Street Liberation Day Parade, on June 25, 1972, with her son, 

Jeanne carried a now-famous sign reading, ‘‘Parents of 

Gays Unite in Support for our Children’’; 

Whereas this important show of support was the impetus for 

her founding the organization Parents, Friends and 

Family of Lesbians and Gays, now known as PFLAG; 

Whereas in the more than 41 years since its first meeting at 

the Church of the Village in Greenwich Village in 1973, 

PFLAG has expanded to a national organization with 

more than 350 chapters and over 200,000 members in all 

50 States; 

Whereas PFLAG envisions a world where diversity is celebrated and all people are respected, valued, and affirmed 

regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or 

gender expression; 


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•HRES 611 IH 

Whereas PFLAG, through its core values of meeting people 

where they are and collaborating with others, seeks to 

relay its vision through support for families, allies, and 

people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and 

queer/questioning (LGBTQ), education about the unique 

issues and challenges that people who are LGBTQ face, 

and advocacy in communities to change attitudes and 

create policies and laws that achieve full equality for people who are LGBTQ; 

Whereas Jeanne Manford became an advocate for people with 

AIDS because of the death of her son and so many others whose lives were far too short; 

Whereas Jeanne Manford was honored as the Grand Marshal 

of the first Queens Pride Parade, held in June 1993; 

Whereas on Sunday, June 1, 2014, officials, community leaders, and residents will participate in the 22nd annual 

Queens Pride Parade and on June 29 the City of New 

York will hold its 44th Annual Pride Parade; 

Whereas the tremendous efforts of Jeanne Manford and 

many others have opened doors for individuals to be open 

with their families at home and with their colleagues in 

their places of work; 

Whereas lesbian and gay employees of the Federal Government and members of the United States Armed Forces 

may serve their Nation with the dignity they deserve and 

without the need to shield an important part of their 

identity; 

Whereas since the landmark decision of United States v. 

Windsor invalidating the Defense of Marriage Act, courts 

have continuously overturned State bans on same-sex 

marriage, leading to equal marriage rights for people in 


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•HRES 611 IH 

19 States and the District of Columbia and legal challenges to same-sex marriage bans pending in 30 other 

States; 

Whereas this extraordinary show of support represents a 

rapid change in attitudes sparked by the important work 

of advocates like Jeanne Sobelson Manford; 

Whereas on January 8, 2013, at the age of 92, just 6 months 

before the Windsor decision, Jeanne Manford passed 

away and the LGBT community lost a long-time champion for civil rights, but celebrated her extraordinary legacy; 

Whereas when President Barack Obama posthumously 

awarded Jeanne the Presidential Citizens Medal on February 15, 2013, he remarked that Jeanne, ‘‘Took to the 

streets with a simple message: No matter who her son 

was—no matter who he loved—she loved him, and 

wouldn’t put up with this kind of nonsense. And in that 

simple act, she inspired a movement and gave rise to a 

national organization that has given so much support to 

parents and families and friends, and helped to change 

this country.’’; 

Whereas Jeanne demonstrated to us in her life and inspires 

us today through her legacy that one voice can change 

the world; 

Whereas Jeanne’s courage lives on in PFLAG’s work and in 

the progress for which she fought; and 

Whereas Jeanne Manford insisted that equality knows no 

bounds, including that of sexual orientation or gender 

identity: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 


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•HRES 611 IH 

1 (1) honors the life and work of Jeanne Sobelson 

2 Manford; 

3 (2) recognizes Jeanne Sobelson Manford as a 

4 national hero who advanced the rights of lesbian, 

5 gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in the 

6 United States; and 

7 (3) commends Jeanne Sobelson Manford for 

8 helping to realize the founders’ goal of creating a 

9 more perfect union based on the ideal that all men 

10 and women are created equal. 

Æ 


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