Last year, the State Department announced that in recognition of the changing face of the American family, it was altering the parent fields on children’s passports applications from “Mother” and “Father” to “Mother” and “Father” to “Parent 1″ and “Parent 2.″ The change went almost unnoticed until the Family Equality Council publicly thanked Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for the alteration, prompting the Family Research Council to condemn the revision as a violation of the Defense of Marriage Act. The State Department responded by modify the fields again, this time to “mother or parent 1″ and “father or parent 2.”

But for Rep. Randy Forbes (R-VA), the change is still not enough. He introduced a new bill this week that would require federal agencies to use the words “mother” and “father.” From his website:

The Parental Title Protection Act, H.R. 635, would require all Federal agencies, contractors, and government-sponsored enterprises to use the words “mother” and “father” when describing parents in all official documents and forms.

“Symbolism is important and this legislation seeks to preserve the sacred relationship mothers and fathers share with their children. Referring to parents as “Parent 1” or “Parent 2” on official government documentation is a bureaucratic attempt to redefine traditional parent roles. These subtle, but nonetheless significant, changes undermine the traditional American family relationships that have served as the bedrock of our nation since its inception,” Forbes said.

The State Department says that the changes will provide the government with more accurate information and allow for a better description “of a child’s parents and in recognition of different types of families” and allows different types of families to apply for a service without feeling like the government doesn’t recognize their family. It is estimated that 1 million gay and lesbian people are raising 2 million children in the United States.

“The question of forms is one that every gay and lesbian faces,” Jennifer Chrisler, executive director of Family Equality Council told me during a phone interview last month. Forms provide “a great opportunity to educate” the public about different kinds of families. (H/T: The Hill’s Daniel Strauss)

The Washington Blade’s Chris Johnson reports that Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel & Readiness Clifford Stanley has sent a memo to the military service secretaries outlining a “framework” for implementing the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Under the legislation passed by Congress last year, the policy prohibiting gays and lesbians from serving openly in the armed forces cannot be lifted until 60 days after the Secretary of Defense, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and President certify that repeal does not undermine the goals of the military.

The memo divides implementation into four parts: pre-repeal, certification, implementation, and sustainemnt and gives the service secretaries until March 1 to file a progress report in their efforts. Read the full memo here.

The Pentagon has pledged to accelerate the certification process, but has come under criticism for failing to issue a new nondiscrimination policy that would protect LGBT servicemembers. On Wednesday, the group Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) urged Obama to “issue an executive order prohibiting discrimination in the armed forces based on sexual orientation and gender identity.”

“Signing legislation that allows for repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ was a necessary first step, but it is not sufficient for ensuring equality in the military,” Aubrey Sarvis, Army veteran and executive director for SLDN said. “We call upon the President to issue an executive order so that sexual orientation and gender identity are not barriers to applying for a job or advancing in your career.”

In an interview with Equality Matters’ Kerry Eleveld last month, Obama twice dodged questions about the policy, after endorsing it during his presidential campaign.

On Monday, in a vote of 8-4, Indiana’s House Judiciary Committee passed an amendment to Indiana’s state constitution “that would ban gay marriage and civil unions in the state,” even though existing state law already prohibits legal recognition for same sex marriage or for any relationship between same sex couples. Yesterday, lawmakers went a stop further, defeating a measure that would have taken out a clause prohibiting civil unions:

Supporters of the ban also have said the “substantially similar” clause would not affect the rights of unmarried couples or stop private companies from giving gay employees health benefits that cover their partners. But opponents worry that all kinds of arrangements — from health plans to wills — could be affected.

Of about 30 states with constitutional bans on same-sex marriage, about 20 also have constitutional bans on civil unions. Some opponents also were concerned that courts would be tasked with defining “substantially similar.”

Eric Turner, R-Marion, who authored the measure, said the language of the ban had been thoroughly reviewed by lawyers. A co-author of the measure, Dave Cheatham, D-North Vernon, said the resolution “is not against anyone; it’s not trying to hurt anyone.”

The House and Senate are expected to approve the amendment, but under Indiana law, it “would have to pass again in 2013 or 2014 in order to get on the ballot in 2014.” A similar ban passed the House in 2005, but ultimately failed when the Democrats took over in 2006.

Currently, Indiana has almost no protections for LGBT residents. Discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation is not explicitly prohibited under Indiana law.