By Bill Parry
A street co-naming to honor a Flushing gay rights pioneer has cleared its first hurdle — the approval of Community Board 7 — by a vote of 30-1, and the proposal was then forwarded to the borough president and the City Council for consideration.
The street name change would honor Jeanne Manford for starting Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, known as PFLAG, with an original chapter in Flushing. The support network now has 350 chapters worldwide.
The plan to co-name 171st Street between 33rd and 35th avenues to “Manford Family PFLAG Way” is supported by City Councilman Daniel Dromm (D-Jackson Heights) from the 25th District.
“I spoke with Dan Halloran about it, but because of the situation he’s in, I decided to back it on my own,” Dromm said.
Councilman Halloran (R-Whitestone), who favored the proposal, decided not to seek re-election to the 19th District after he was charged in a federal bribery case in April.
Dromm got involved in the effort because Manford was a neighbor and close friend of his mother’s.
“She was an incredible, incredible woman who helped my mother when I came out publicly,” said Dromm, who added that his mother helped Manford start the original chapter in Flushing.
Manford was the first mother to stand up for equal rights for a gay son, according to Dromm.
Manford died in January at the age of 92. She was awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal posthumously. The medal is the second highest civilian award recognizing individuals “who have performed exemplary deeds or services for his or her country or fellow citizens.”
The lone dissenter on CB 7, Nick Corrado, believes street co-namings should be reserved for members of the Police and Fire departments or members of the military.
While respecting Corrado’s reasons, Dromm said “she won the Presidential Citizens Medal. I don’t think there are too many folks in Queens that have done that.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry at bparry@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4538.
