While I usually choose to write solely on women’s issues, an article that I recently read about same sex couples and their children really struck me as interesting. Children of legally wed same sex couples are having a hard time filling out the “Free Application for Federal Student Aid” form (fondly known as FAFSA). This is a form that students are required to fill out in order to 1) see if they qualify for federal financial aid and 2) how much they qualify for. In the article, an applicant notes that there are specified spots for “mother/stepmother” and “father/stepfather”so that applicants with two fathers or two mothers cannot adequately fill out the form. 
The Department of Education notes that these applicants must act as if their parents are divorced. They must chose who the legal parent who provides more support is, and many times they will ignore the second parent’s income anyways. This could end in two ways: either the applicant gets less aid than needed or they get more.
Many times, these students end up getting less aid because in addition to the 106 questions that the FAFSA already requires they must take initiative to find out that they need to treat their parents as if they are divorced (since this is not common knowledge). This acts as a deterrent to these students and therefore adds yet another obstacle that homosexual families must face. Unfortunately, this is the case because the forms must follow the Defense of Marriage Act, which only recognizes heterosexual marriages on a federal level. In my opinion, not only is this discriminatory towards same sex couples but this also unfairly punishes their children. Nowadays, more and more students have to forego attending their “dream school” because they are not able to get enough financial aid. Some students may not even be able to attend college at all because of financial reasons. It’s not fair that just because a form is not conducive to same sex families, that students have to be punished. Not only are their same sex parents being treated unequally but now their children (who may be homosexual or heterosexual) are discriminated against as well.
With more states legalizing same sex marriage, I propose a simple revamping of the FAFSA form. Instead of printing the form with solely “mother/stepmother” or “father/stepfather” in the spaces, they should print it with “mother/father” in both sections so that the applicant can circle the word that applies to their parent. This way the applicant will not have to list their parent’s marital status as something that it’s not. It’s absolutely ridiculous that for decades homosexual couples were denied marriage and finally they are allowed in their state of residence to legally wed, but with this form they must deny that status. It’s denying these couples their right to be married all over again. It’s a backhanded way of showing disapproval for the marriage and the lifestyle that these citizens lead. America is the land where everyone is treated equally, yet we continue to discriminate against people (and their families) because of their sexual orientation.
Unfortunately, the FAFSA is only one form among thousands that refuse to recognize homosexual couples and only adds to the inequality that these people face. My hope is that one day, something as simple as government forms (at the very least) will be conducive to everyone in this country, not just the men/women that are heterosexual.
Empow(Her) 