Liberty University Singles Out LGBT Military Spouses For Denial of Tuition Discounts

University says only military spouses who are "natural-born members of the opposite sex" will receive huge tuition discounts

WASHINGTON - November 30, 2015 – Today, the American Military Partner Association (AMPA), the nation's largest organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) military spouses and their families, responded to news that Liberty University is singling out LGBT military spouses for denial of military tuition discounts. According to a report by Military.com's SpouseBuzz, while other military spouses receive deep discounts on tuition, LGBT military spouses are denied the discount because they are not "natural-born members of the opposite sex."

"This is absolutely outrageous," said AMPA President Ashley Broadway-Mack who is the spouse of an active duty U.S. Army officer. "What kind of university thinks it's ok to exclude a military spouse from the support they need just because they happen to be LGBT? Do they somehow think LGBT service members and their families sacrifice any less than their straight counterparts and are less deserving of this discount? Shame on Liberty University!"

According to the report, "The school gives all military students and almost all spouses the same per-credit-hour rate required by military tuition assistance rules, regardless of whether or not they are using DoD-funding for their degree. That means that instead of paying $590 per credit hour, a part time graduate student using the discount only pays $275."

"I know they're a private, Christian college and they are allowed to make their own rules, but you will accept me to 'get my money,' but deny me a discount due to me being married to the same sex?" Jenny, a same-sex military spouse who was denied the discount, asked SpouseBuzz. "How can they accept me into the college, but deny me of the discount for military spouses?"

In essence, Liberty University has decided it -- rather than the U.S. Department of Defense -- will determine who is really a military spouse and who is not. 

For more information about the American Military Partner Association and LGBT military families, please visit our home on the web at www.MilitaryPartners.org.

The American Military Partner Association (AMPA), a non-profit and non-partisan 501(c)3 organization, is the nation's largest organization of spouses, families, and allies of America's LGBT service members and veterans. Based in Washington DC, AMPA is committed to education, advocacy, and support for our "modern military families."