Jeanne publicly supported her gay son at the 1972 Gay Pride parade, carrying a historic placard calling for parental support.
On June 25, 1972, Jeanne Manford attended the Gay Pride parade in New York City, a momentous event marking the first public LGBTQ march following the Stonewall Riots. Uniquely, she marched carrying a placard that read: "Parents of Gays: Unite in Support for Our Children," a revolutionary act that called on other parents to show love and support for their LGBTQ children. Her unapologetic advocacy provided unprecedented visibility to LGBTQ allyship, breaking new ground in the fight for equal rights. This public support came at a time when the LGBTQ community faced significant backlash, positioning Jeanne as a courageous voice for change.