Can Same-Sex Parents Get a Break on College Financial Aid?

Same-sex parents are used to the routine of crossing out “Mother” or “Father” on various forms and writing in whatever applies to our family. What happens, however, when this is asked on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, used by most colleges and universities to determine a student’s contribution towards the cost of his/her education? Can we fill in the form literally and thus not count one parent’s earnings (meaning potentially more aid)?

That’s the question my spouse Helen asked over at her blog. I’ll let you pop over there for her thoughts on the subject.

Happy International Women’s Day

It’s International Women’s Day, a holiday first celebrated in 1909 in honor of a 1908 strike by women garment workers in protest at their working conditions. Now, it’s a holiday endorsed by the U.N., which has set the 2010 theme as “Equal rights, equal opportunities: Progress for all.”

While the holiday gets little attention in the U.S., people in other areas of the world whoop it up, as evidenced by the many events listed on this slightly more commercial International Women’s Day site. (There are 238 events IWD events listed for the U.K., but only 124 in the U.S..)

I’m all about celebrating women here at Mombian, though, so here’s a topic for discussion today:

How has either being a mother or being LGBT changed your awareness and/or involvement in women’s rights and issues?

Florida “Family-Friendly” Film Tax Credit Would Exclude Movies with Gay Families

Watching the Oscars tonight? Here’s some filmmaking news that will have you seething:

Florida lawmakers are considering an incentive package to attract film and entertainment jobs to the state.  Productions with “nontraditional family values,” however, would be ineligible.  State Rep. Stephen Precourt (R-Orlando), who introduced the bill, said that films depicting gay families should not get the tax credit, reports the Palm Beach Post.

Gov. Charlie Crist agreed, defining “traditional” families as those with a married man and woman. (Someone should tell him that according to the 2000 U.S. Census, less than 25% of all families in the U.S. consist of a married, opposite-sex couple living with their own (biological or adopted) children.)

The bill (HB 697) was approved unanimously last week in the House Economic Development Policy Committee, and is apparently a priority for Republicans as part of their promise to create jobs.

Not everyone who wants to limit the tax credit to “family-friendly” films agrees with Precourt about the definition of family values. Some say that limiting the tax credit to “G-rated” films is enough. It is also unclear whether the language about “nontraditional family values” would make it through the state Senate version of the bill. Still, this type of thing sets my teeth on edge.

After the jump, the relevant section of the legislation. “Nontraditional family values” are lumped in with smoking, sex, nudity, gratuitous violence, and vulgar or profane language. There go my hopes of selling a screenplay that’s a sort of Heather Has Two Mommies meets Pulp Fiction. Read the rest of this post »

Weekly Political Roundup

First, an opportunity: The Bilerico Project and PFLAG have partnered to provide funding for unemployed LGBT people to go to Washington, D.C. on March 16 and lobby on behalf of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). Details are here.

• Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and 11 Democratic cosponsors introduced a bill to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. The House Armed Services Military Personnel Subcommittee held hearings on the policy Wednesday.
• Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) called for an end to the ban on blood donation by gay men.
• An unknown senator or senators have put a hold on the nomination of lesbian law professor Chai Feldblum to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Read the rest of this post »

“She Got Me Pregnant”: Episode 100

Helen and I take an Olympian approach to our 100th vlog. After watching the Olympics non-stop for two weeks, we bring you the “Top Ten Reasons Parenting Is Like the Olympics” (and not just because it’s like sliding down an icy track at 90 miles per hour).

(If the embedded video above doesn’t work for you, try it at Dailymotion.)

Brought to you in partnership with After Ellen.

LGBT Parenting Roundup

Books and Media

• Since books form an important part of the parenting experience for many of us (and many of us were voracious readers before we became parents), go check out the Lambda Literary Foundation’s brand-new Web site, chock-full of goodness about books for adults and kids.
• Life & Style magazine’s latest cover headline asks, “Why Is Angelina Turning Shiloh Into a Boy?” Apparently it’s because Shiloh has a short haircut and a penchant for boy’s clothes. Yes, it’s a clueless article. It’s gets worse, though. The magazine also quotes an “expert” from arch-conservative group Focus on the Family on how this could harm the child. Dorothy Snarker takes them to task in her inimitable style, so I’ll refer you to her for the dressing-down they deserve.

Politics and Law

• Lake Worth, Florida city commissioners agreed to support a repeal of the state’s ban on adoption by gay men and lesbians, in a show of support for bills filed to repeal the law.
• Nancy Polikoff has further details on the long-running Janet Jenkins-Lisa Miller custody case. Not only did a Vermont family court issue a warrant for Miller’s arrest after she disappeared with their daughter, but a Virginia court denied Miller’s attempt to have Virginia refuse to enforce the orders from the Vermont court.
• Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell filed a motion requesting that the full Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals review a February 20 decision by a three-judge panel ordering the state Registrar of Vital Statistics to issue a birth certificate listing both adoptive dads of a boy born in Louisiana but adopted in New York. (Via Lambda Legal e-mail message. Not yet on their Web site.)
• Washington, D.C. wasn’t the only capitol to begin allowing same-sex couples to marry this week. Mexico City did as well, also giving same-sex couples the right to adopt.

Advice

• Lauren Forcella, who runs the syndicated “Straight Talk for Teens” column, takes on a question from a teen whose mother won’t let her go over to the house of a friend with two moms. Actually, Forcella’s panel of teen respondents tackle the question as well, and their comments give me hope for the next generation. (And just to alleviate any possible confusion, the “straight” in the title refers to directness, not sexual orientation.)

Congratulations, Lezzy Winners

A very hearty congratulations to the winners of the 2009 Lezzy Awards, sponsored by The Lesbian Lifestyle. There are some mighty fine blogs out there, including Up Popped a Fox, who took it home in the Parenting category, over Lesbian Dad and myself. Vikki keeps us all in stitches with her riotous tales of parenting life.

It’s a pleasure having such good competition—although I hesitate to use the word. Comrades or sisters-in-arms is more like it.

Thanks to all of you who voted for Mombian.

Go check out some of these other blogs, if you haven’t already:

• Best Entertainment/Culture: Dorothy Surrenders
• Best Humor: Grace the Spot
• Best Parenting: Up Popped a Fox
• Best Engagement/Wedding: My Big Fat Gay Wedding
• Best Feminist/Political: Feministing
• Best Personal: Peaches & Coconuts
• Best Out Later in Life: Making Space
• Best Sex/Short Story/Erotica: Sugarbutch Chronicles
• Best New Lesbian Blog: Autostraddle
• Best Podcast: The Lesbian Lounge
• Lifetime Achievement: AfterEllen.com

Music for All Families: “And Mom and Kid”

As regular readers will know, I’m a big fan of They Might Be Giants and their great new kids’ album Here Comes Science. They also did a fun song called “And Mom and Kid” for Rosie O’Donnell’s recent HBO special A Family Is a Family Is a Family. (While I had some criticisms of the film, and Shannon raised some very good others, the music is still pretty fun.)

I am a member of the Amazon Associates program, and get a small referral fee from all purchases made at Amazon.com via links on this site. You are under no obligation to purchase through them.

Happy Marriage Equality, D.C.!

A big congratulations to the same-sex couples in Washington, D.C., who can apply for marriage licenses starting today, with ceremonies to begin March 9. (Here’s how, if you want to.)

The D.C. Marriage Bureau says it is preparing for a “flood” of couples. Several couples have volunteered to be media spokespeople, and because a few of them have children, I want to highlight them here. They represent only a few of the many families who will be celebrating in the coming days, but deserve our thanks for being willing to take on extra responsibilities during what would be a stressful day under any circumstances.

Information below provided by the Campaign for All DC Families.

Angelisa Young and Sinjolya Townsend

Angelisa and Sinjolya, both African-American females, will be married at HRC Equality Forum on March 9th in the presence of family and friends. Angelisa (age 47) and Sinjolya (age 41) have been together for 13 years and have two children ages 21 and 25. They both work for DC government and are long-time residents of the District.

Reginald (Reggie) Stanley and Rocky Galloway

Reggie and Rocky, both African-American males, are long time residents of the district. They are both 50 years old and have two children, Malena and Zoe Stanley-Galloway, that are each 15 months old. They will be married at HRC Equality Forum on March 9th. Participating in the ceremony will be their two children, Jim Cullion (the best man) and Cherrie McCoy (the best woman).

Rick A. Imirowicz and Terrance Heath

Rick Imirowicz, a forty-three-year old Caucasian male, will be marrying Terrance Heath, a forty-one-year old African-American male. Rick is a doctor and practices Catholicism, while Terrance practices Buddhism. They are long-time District residents, have been together for 10 years and have two children.

[Terrance is a long-time blogger. I had the pleasure of giving a blogging workshop with him on an R Family cruise a few years back. Go visit him over at Republic of T and congratulate him and his family. —DR]

Engaged (Legally or Not?) Here’s a Survey

Passing along this request for volunteers to participate in an academic study of same- and opposite-sex engaged couples. I am not affiliated with the project; please contact the researcher if you have questions. (I do think it is important to have LGBT voices in broad research like this, though.)

Engaged volunteers needed!

I am looking for volunteers for a study of attitudes towards marriage and parenthood among engaged couples. The study consists of a 25-30 minute online survey. To qualify for the study, you must be 20-35 years old, live in the U.S., and plan to marry or have a commitment ceremony within the next 365 days. You and your romantic partner must not have children, and this must be the first marriage for both of you. Read the rest of this post »