How LGBTQ+ students face barriers to accessing FAFSA and tackling their student loan debt [Video]

When you are unable to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), your access to college, scholarships and student loans immediately changes.

This is the case for many LGBTQ+ students when questions on the FAFSA application – a form that determines what a student is eligible to receive in federal aid – ask for information like their parents’ or guardians’ bank statements and signature to submit for aid.

Queer & Trans Wealth, an anti-capitalist personal finance resource and service, says that when queer and trans folks don’t have support from their parents it makes it extremely difficult to fill out FAFSA and complete the form.

“If you are not cool with your parents then number one, who’s going to walk you through the process of filling out the form? And number two, what do you do if you can’t get a cosigner for your student loan?,” Leo Aquino, journalist and founder of Queer & Trans Wealth, told Reckon.

While FAFSA has made several updates to …