Have you ever been concerned that your family was treated unfairly or unequally because you are a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender parent?
Have you ever been frustrated by the forms your family is asked to fill out, maybe at your doctor’s office or at your child’s school? Too often, forms only have a place for a “mother” and a “father” or do not reflect the composition of your family.
Through our work at the Family Equality Council we already know there are hundreds of state and federal departments and agencies, as well as both public and private businesses, across the country that lack inclusive practices. The forms provided by our government, doctors, and schools often fail to recognize all families – but together we can change that.
Family Equality Council is thrilled to announce the launch of our new Scan and Send It program – a way for LGBT to families to share forms that need to be changed to recognize all families.
Make your voice heard today! Our new Scan and Send It program allows you to share those forms with us, joining us in our ongoing advocacy for inclusive public policies and practices. Email your forms to forms@familyequality.org.
Approximately two million children under 18 in the U.S. have two mothers or two fathers. These are just the numbers for children under 18 and does not account for the hundreds of thousands of adult children who also have same-sex parents.
In today’s world, there are still far too many forms which ask for information on an individual’s “mother,” “father,” or “mother’s maiden name.” Many of these forms are the gateway to foundational aspects of American life – such as enrollment in school, camp and extracurricular programs, access to quality healthcare services, applying for a social security card, a U.S. passport, or financial aid for college. In most instances, the “mother” and “father” data are not relevant. Rather, it is the identity or consent of legal parents – not the gender of the parents – that is needed for the program or service to be offered.
Family Equality Council is working to ensure all children in this country are treated equally by our schools, our doctors, and our government. Don’t let your family be invisible.
When you encounter a form that excludes your family, please scan it and send it to us, either completed or blank. Join us in taking another step ensure that whether it’s at our local hospital or at a government agency, our families are treated with the recognition and respect all families deserve.
Help us demand change today – email your forms to forms@familyequality.org.