Donated to History Colorado by Mark S. Keene.
Nancy Umbenhaur Keene (1928-2018), the donor's mother, was born in Chicago and moved to Denver in 1964. Keene was the inaugural president of PFLAG Denver (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays). The majority of that time was at the height of the AIDS crisis in the 1980s and 1990s. Nancy Keene played an active part in soothing the broken hearts of people affected by the epidemic. Keene also co-founded Denver's AIDS Family Support Group, as well as played a role in the passage of Denver's Anti-discrimination Ordinance and efforts to overturn Colorado Amendment 2. She was awarded many honors in her retirement for her role in the community, including Wellington Webb naming February 3, 1993 as Nancy Keene Day in Denver. (For more information, see Attached Files, "A Tribute to the Life of Nancy Keene")
The PFLAG Denver chapter was founded in February 1980. PFLAG Denver is one of over 500 affiliates of PFLAG National.
From PFLAG Denver website (2019): "Our mission is to build on a foundation of loving families united with LGBTQ+ people and allies who support one another, and to educate ourselves and our communities to speak up as advocates until all hearts and minds respect, value and affirm LGBTQ+ people...PFLAG envisions a world where diversity is celebrated and all people are respected, valued, and affirmed inclusive of their sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression."