In honor of Mother's Day (here in the U.S.), today's Out Spotlight is Jeanne Manford. Through the love and acceptance of her son, a movement was born.
In 1972, Morty Manford was physically attacked at a gay rights protest demonstration in New York. Morty's parents, Jeanne and Jules Manford, saw the attack on the evening news and witnessed the police's failure to step in and help. Their outrage turned them into activists.
Jeanne Manford's next steps was to erase any doubt her son may have had about her loyalty, love and acceptance of him and who he was.
She tried to call The New York Times to expose the injustice, but says she was hung up on. Then, she wrote a letter to the editor of the New York Post. The letter was published. One sentence jumped out: "My son is a homosexual, and I love him."
The next day, she received a phone call from Morty.
"You can't believe it [the response]," he told her. "No mother has ever announced to the world her son is gay."
"I loved him," she said of her son, Morty Manford. "He was my son."
"Of course, I knew Morty was gay," Manford explained. "He didn't want to tell me. I told him that I loved him, and nothing else mattered. At first, there was a little tension there. He didn't believe I was that accepting. But I was."
Manford's son invited her to march with him in the Christopher Street Liberation Day parade in June 1972.
She agreed, accompanying him to the parade and carrying a sign to explain why she was there. The poster board read in large capital letters: PARENTS OF GAYS: UNITE IN SUPPORT FOR OUR CHILDREN.
Perhaps it was the first time a parent was seen to publicly support her gay child. Because so many gay and lesbian people ran up to Jeanne during the parade and begged her to talk to their parents, she decided to begin a support group. This first support group grew and branched out into other communities, forming a network of groups.
Her activism was not without risk. A 30-year veteran elementary school teacher,her principal warned me that there were complaints from parents," she said. "She told me to be discreet. I told her this was my private life." The principal retreated, opposition faded and Manford's life as an activist continued through her 1990 retirement from education.
That love and pride inspired Manford had about her son leg her to co-found the internationally-known support group Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) in 1972. In 1973, they held their first meeting at the Metropolitan Duane Methodist Church in Greenwich Village church. Approximately 20 people attend.
In 1976, Larry and Adele Starr launch the Los Angeles chapter - and apply for non-profit status. More than 35 people go to the Starrs’ home for the first meeting.
The groups had their first national meeting in Washington, D.C. in 1981. As a result of this meeting, the first PFLAG office was established in Los Angeles under Adele Starr, who served as the first president of PFLAG.
By 1988, there are 200 local chapters nationwide and its headquarter relocates to Washington DC. In 1993, to accommodate its growing national profile and ensure its support at the local level, the organization restructures and changes its name to Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, or PFLAG. PFLAG added bisexuals to its mission in 1993, and officially included transgendered people and their loved ones in its program of support, education and advocacy in 1998.
PFLAG has become international with more than 250,000 members and supporters included in 500 chapters worldwide.
Today, the sign Jeanne Manford carried supporting her son Morty is part of the Gay and Lesbian Collections of the New York Public Library archives.
"What can be a greater expression of a mother's love for her son than to stand up for that child in the face of such great adversity?" - about Jeanne Manford
PFLAG
and to all women who share their
love and compassion
with others.
Update:(4:15pm EST) New Prince of Persia Footage
40 comments:
Jersey Tom said...
Wonderful Spotlight Spesh. What a wonderful Mom Jeanne Manford is.
Happy Mothers day to everyone.
I did do some thinking about Austins writing. I doubt that the sitiuation he described at the gas station even happened. It was a story. A story he has probably read or heard somewhere before. A story which the female audience of OTH will love. Those certainly were not female legs or feet wrapped around Austins in the now famous photo.
I totally expect to see Austin at the Emmys this year. Prayers for Bobby is one the of the early favorites for Best Movie Drama. Siguorney Weaver is actually the frontrunner for Best Actress in a TV Movie Drama. I hope he is there to support Siguorney and the cast and crew.
Time will tell if Austin goes to Italy or if he was already there. He may have stories he wants to write about Italy in Southern Gothic but needs it to appear he was there after Maggie and Peters wedding.
May 10, 2009 9:52 AM
Proud card carrying memeber of PFLAG here!
Thanks for this spotlight, Special. It is so very important that the haters out there see that equality is not demanded only by our fellow GLBTQ citizens, but by their straight allies as well. Their struggle is our struggle.
As to Austin's blog entry -
Please note, he didn't mention the sundress straining to contain bobbing breasts, how the cotton hugged the curve of ass, or the swish of thighs in motion, and the promise nestled between. All the typical places where straight men's eyes gravitate. No, he talked about her feet.
Bare feet is a southern thing, a southern iconic thing. People down here do it all the time, go everywhere, without a second thought, or an eye blink. Going bare foot is a tradition - one which I personally find disgusting - that heralds summer's beginning, declares nonconformity, and whispers of childhood's simplicity. After spending so much time in exile, returning home to Texas, Austin would of course notice such a free and easy expression, one that is the total antithesis of concrete fake LA.
I am a flaming heterosexual, but can still experience beauty in all of nature's wonderous forms. I look, I comment, I appreciate, and it doesn't matter what equipment is attached where. So what if Austin whistles at pretty women on the streets of Italy? Remember, a discerning eye for feminine beauty is hardly a universally absent trait in gay men.
To me, Austin sounds lonely, adrift, which is so very sad.
I'm playing catchup. In yesterday's comments, Lane said this:
There's nothing exciting about Reese, nothing dirty-sexy, she doesn't attract gossip, people aren't interested in a bland HW divorced mother of 2. Without Jake there's no other way she could have been in tabloids and online sites the past 2 years, unless she did a Britney and there's no way she would tarnish her goody goody reputation doing that.
I couldn't agree more. Folks who support Reeke as real always as, What does she have to gain from this? Even i have wondered that, because his earnings and star power (based on earnings and hits) are nothing compared to hers. But you're right - she is the most boring and blah STAR out there, and without him and the romantic angle, she would just be the Boring Dumped Chic with two kids and middle-aged flab. He's helped her keep herself in the mags, but i really don't see this being a very successful venture for either one of them.
Thanks, Wicked, for the link. I was excited to see several posts. I'm going to read them now.
Great Spotlight, as usual. Thanks for all the work ya'll put into this blog. I really enjoy it.
Happy Mother's Day! S!
"To me, Austin sounds lonely, adrift, which is so very sad."
Me too, maybe, like alot of us, the combination of the ass poke, the spit and kick episodes, and the 'let's use my sister's most private and personal moment to promote my fauxmance' were the straws that broke even loyal, ever so slightly lap doggish, Austin's back. Hate to say this, but I hope they did, to me Austin deserves better.
That said, a few weeks mooching around Italy seems like the best place to help mend a broken heart.
(btw, although i'm a total sucker for Austin, think the whistling at Italian women comes more from the fact that he's watched so many old Italian films, where alot of whistling at women occurs, that he's just getting himself into the mind set - sharp clothes, tooting around Rome on a vespa, a young Sophia Loren somewhere close. harmless imagining for a cinephile wouldn't you say.)
^
ITA with that Meg, couldn't quite put it into words yesterday - Austin frames everything :) - he's also kind of economical with the truth at times so the "has he / hasn't he been to Italy" debate doesn't really trouble me.
Excellent spotlight, Spesh.
PS Italy is a cool country and Austin is exactly the kind of American boy they like :)
Hi Me, nice to see you!
That's what I was trying to say yesterday Me and Meg about Austin's post, but you both found far better words than I could to express those ideas.
A very fitting Spotlight for today Special.
Happy Mother's Day to all mothers, including those with four-legged children.
***Bare feet is a southern thing, a southern iconic thing.***
Today I saw a woman walking down Benning Rd in DC barefoot. Not a smart choice, given what's on DC streets.
Some of you have heard this story before but today's Spotlight reminds me of going to the 1993 March on Washington. We parked at the Metro and an older couple, dressed very conservatively, got the spot next to us. We were expecting the whole train to be gay that day (and it was!) and thought this couple had no idea what they were in for. They got out of their car, opened one of the back doors, and pulled out a huge PFLAG sign. That's the image I always have when I think of this organization. We all gave them a big cheer.
Motherlover
New footage of Prince of Persia
Hmmm, that footage actually looked better than I thought it would!
***Bare feet is a southern thing, a southern iconic thing.***
I admit I am barefoot as much as I can be, and learning to walk in rural Pennsylvania, it was barefooted. People still kid me there's still the part of country that they can't get out of me.
I do find it odd that Austin would be going to Italy alone. Maybe because I am a women I am more reluctant to travel by myself. Ok, if you've been there before - yeah I could see him traveling and wander. But I really think he would want to share the experience, since it's a pleasure trip and not business one, with someone. So I suspect he isn't taking/took this trip by himself.
But I do agree with Meg that he will be or had done a kind of cinematic and artist travelogue of Italy. Wonder if he will let his Lincoln loose and take pictures.
On the PoP footage - hit the HQ button and hit full screen.
Jake, damn you, don't make me want to see this after all! *shakes fist*
...it does look good.
PoP looks really good.
And Jake's abs don't look to bad either. Oh mama!
Now just waiting for screen caps.
Jake's abs
Public Outing
Anderson Cooper was outed at the Tribeca Film Festival after a screening of a documentary about closeted politicians who oppose gay marriage, scoops the NY Daily News. During an audience Q&A, playwright Larry Kramer called the CNN newscaster "hypocritical" for not appearing with his boyfriend in public and being more vocal on the subject. Maybe he thinks it's nobody's business. (May 4)
I say good for Larry.
I would love to see Jake squirm in his seat if he was ever asked that question. Force these guys to lie.
In regards to Jake abs in PoP. Either fake or steroids.
Look how trim and cut he is through his waist, you can't fake or paint that. That was strict on diet and some serious workouts. And he was more bulked in Jarhead, so I say no juice.
The visuals of PoP are impressive. I think Mike Newell captured the vision of what Bruckhemier saw when thought about bringing PoP to screen.
if those abs aren't chemically induced, why didn't he look like that in jarhead? i'm not trying to stir the pot, just asking.
ps: i went to wicked's mrs's blog about religious issues and why the Bible is against gays, and found her initial postings very interesting. i'll post the link here in a sec. if any of you are interested in that sort of discussion, i think you'd enjoy this, and i think having more participants would spur her on to make more posts. :)
this is the link to the Biblical blog:
http://subrosa09.wordpress.com/2009/05/09/hello-world/
In regards to Jake abs in PoP. Either fake or steroids.I'd expect nothing else from you.
take 2 on the clickable link to the Biblical post: good food for thought.
the mrs’ post
**if those abs aren't chemically induced, why didn't he look like that in jarhead? i'm not trying to stir the pot, just asking.**
Sienna - I think different exercise, different diet, different goal for what they wanted out of the fitness plan. Jarhead he had to bulk up, and look more mannish. He need to really go from boy to man for Jarhead.
PoP he needed to look leaner and more cut for the parkour and hand to hand fighting of it, think Bruce Lee Enter the Dragon.Powerful, cut, lean.
Is it coincidence that Reeke was ramped up and now we get new footage of PoP?
Can we expect a fake engagement a few months before release date? By the time PoP is released I think Jakey-poo will be straighter than an arrow. Disney is rather like the Catholic Church, always 10 years behind.
Jake's abs? Steroids, I bet! :D
Don't know if Austin was at the wedding or not but I'm willing to bet Reese wasn't.
See, I watched that clip and saw nothing new, nothing exciting, nothing that would make me want to see PoP. I've seen granduer, I've seen scope, I've seen battles and swords and horses and legions of men fighting to the death. Many, MANY times. Also have seen too many movies to count that have the best scenes in the trailers.
What will make this movie stand out above all the other swashbuckling/ripped off from other mediums movies is the story underneath the brawn sweaty testesterone. That and the acting. I agree, the cast list does have pedigree, but so did "Eragon", and "The Last Kingdom" and "First Knight".
Still sitting in PoP neutral.
i'm sure you can adjust the workout to meet the needs of the movie, but i still feel like that look was awfully extreme, considering how he looked before and after. however, he's young and versatile, at least when it suits him to be, so maybe it's all real hard work. that's what HW is known for, after all.
(yeah, i'm not as willing to give him the benefit of the doubt as i used to be. sorry. he's reeked alot of my goodwill away.)
anyway, i am giving up on posting the link, but if anyone wants to read the blog about why the Bible thumps on gays, here is the link for you to cut and paste. i really am enjoying her posts.
http://subrosa09.wordpress.com/2009/05/09/hello-world/
s.
Jake at 21/22 during filming of TDAT ****
Jake at 23/24 during filming of Jarhead ****
Twenty-something Jake ***
There's also another picture of him during the shooting of Bubble Boy (19, 20 years old?) where he has no shirt on and his pants are pulled down and he's pretty ripped as well, but I can't find that one right now.
I really don't see any major differences except of course that he's in general gotten older.
I guess that means he always takes steroids for his movies? Even when we don't see his undressed upper body at all (Bubble Boy) or just quickly (TDAT)?
And he must also take steroids when he's promoting something because there's always the chance his costar might pull up his shirt.
He gains a little weight every time he doesn't have to shoot or keep a schedule, so logically that would mean he always stops using right after he's done with a movie and starts again the moment he's signed on to something.
i think enuf folks have commented on the extremeness of the POP body shots that i don't need to feel like i'm the only one. and if enuf folks notice something looks odd, then - hey, it looks odd. It doesn't mean he did anything illegal or underhanded, it just means that he looks weird in the pics.
even after look at your comparison pics, i still feel that he looks weird in the POP pics. however, i also thought he looked weird in the recent black t-shirt pic that was posted here. he looked strangely plumped-up.
so i don't know if maybe it's just weird pics or odd angles or me or what, but - after looking at the recent pics posted of him going from normal jake to jarhead jake to pop jake - i still feel like the POP jake pics are over the top. his jarhead jake muscles looked like a natural profession of his everyday body. his POP pics looked like a muscle magazine.
jmho. s.
Sheesh, Stubborn, sarcasm much?
Other people's opinions now longer wanted or accepted by you? By OMG?
To some it looks like Jake was hitting the juice for PoP, others it doesn't. And that's not OK in your book?You said he did use, I say he didn't. Only difference is I actually backed my opinion up with pictures.
I guess it's only an opinion if people think the same as you?
Thanks for photos Stubborn. Jake does look like he has a similar shape throughout his career. You have to remember that Jake is maturing too. It's hard sometimes to think of Jake older than 24 or 25 sometimes.
Jake does tend to trim down during filming and then kind relaxes in between and enjoys a bit of a break.
He is a foodie and loves to eat.
Still don't think Jake juiced, and sticking to it.
The PoP clip looks okay, but I still can't get excited about it, probably because I think many movies of this type are just not very good, all look/action and not enough of a good story. Jake does look better than I would have thought, though.
I agree with Sienna, I think Jake looks weird in the pictures from PoP (as opposed to the clip). It just doesn't look natural to me either.
i had a bad typo in my earlier post. i said:
his jarhead jake muscles looked like a natural profession of his everyday body. his POP pics looked like a muscle magazine.
profession was supposed to be progression. not sure how i bopped that up. sorry. :(
I think Jake looked more cut when he made TDAT than he has or even in PoP. Just look at that one photo set Stubborn made.
A lot was going on during that movie. Wonder if Austin was around the set when Jake was changing out of those wet clothes. ; )
When I looked at the clip, my first thought was 'that six-pack is fake'. Seems like the people at towleroad agree.
Stick on abs anyone? I'm in the chemically enhanced camp, which I think would also explain some of the more irrational behaviour of Jake's, kick and spit in particular, but agree, vert, very strict diet and extreme exercise could have achieved the same result (apart from the fake six-pack of course). Neither option (roids or exercise) strike me as being particularly healthy options in the long run.
Hmm, Jake's abs look fake but in general he seems like the type who bulks up easily so I don't think he used steroids.
The new PoP footage looked pretty promising. I wonder why they are promoting the film like this. Do the producers usually give interviews about unfinished films (with a focus on the producer instead of the material)? The interview was really bad with B gushing about the action and Jake's abs. Why not tell something new about the actual film (that we can't already see in the footage)! I get the impression they don't really know how they are going to market PoP yet and are now using a lame "it's awesome" tactic.
About Austin's Italian trip. I thought he had already travelled to Italy several times! I wonder what happened to the festival trip last year. Anyway, I think the blog entry was a backup in case pictures of Austin in Italy come up. What a coincidence that he's travelling there exactly a week after Maggie's wedding and Jake coming back from Italy right before Austin left. No, they weren't there together for a minute, nope...
About the backup plan: Austin can now safely mention he was in Italy this spring without people thinking he was at the wedding since the timeframe was set that he was there at a different yet very close time as Jake.
I think the abs are fake. I thought it when I saw the first pic of him on set with his love.
of course said...
In regards to Jake abs in PoP. Either fake or steroids.I'd expect nothing else from you.
Dont hide. I think I know who you are. Coward.
Check this out courtesy of Michael K's Hot Slut of the DaySometimes you think you know what you see, but not always.
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