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. CON-
NOLLY, Mr. HONDA, Mr. SERRANO, Mr. TAKANO, and Ms. SINEMA) sub-
mitted 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. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
01:38 Jun 03, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6652
E:\BILLS\HR611.IH
HR611
tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
•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 Uni-
versity of New York’s Queens College and became an ele-
mentary 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, to-
gether with her husband Jules, became a staunch advo-
cate of LGBT rights; 
Whereas while marching in one of New York City’s first 
Pride parades, known as the Christopher Street Libera-
tion 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 cele-
brated and all people are respected, valued, and affirmed 
regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or 
gender expression; 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
01:38 Jun 03, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR611.IH
HR611
tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
•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 peo-
ple who are LGBTQ; 
Whereas Jeanne Manford became an advocate for people with 
AIDS because of the death of her son and so many oth-
ers 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 lead-
ers, 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 Govern-
ment 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 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
01:38 Jun 03, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR611.IH
HR611
tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with BILLS