Mama Harriet Built a Pride Legacy

In the early 80s, Harriet Hancock turned her grief and love into a revolution for LGBTQ+ youth in South Carolina. After her son came out, she saw the pain and isolation in his friends’ lives—and stepped in. She founded PFLAG’s Columbia chapter, co-created Palmetto AIDS Life Support Services, and launched the Southeast’s first LGBTQ+ community center, now called The Harriet Hancock Center. Known as “Mama Harriet” or the “Mother of Pride,” she fought against a world that saw homosexuality as illness or sin, building safe havens for families in need. Her story, shared with daughter Jennifer Tague via StoryCorps, reveals how her courage reshaped lives—and how her legacy lives on through the center’s ongoing work, proving compassion can change everything. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/01da1a7b321a175e