Republican Representative Tim Burchett proposed a bill that would require biological women who identify as men to register with Selective Service in the case that the United States ever has a military draft.
“If they want to be treated like men, then they need to do what other men do and register for the Selective Service and get called up like everybody else,” Burchett told Military.com. “This group of people is more protected than any other group, and it’s not right.”
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At present, able-bodied males are required to register with Selective Service, regardless of what gender they identify as.
The proposed amendment authorizes the Department of Defense’s spending and policy priorities for the following year, changing the requirements to register by defining “male person” and “male citizen of the United States” to include “transgender person who identifies as male.”
“Selective Service bases the registration requirement on gender assigned at birth and not on gender identity or on gender reassignment,” the Selective Service website states. “Individuals who are born male and changed their gender to female are still required to register.”
“Until Congress amends the MSSA [Military Selective Service Act] or passes a separate law addressing transsexuals and gender identity, Selective Service must follow the intent of Congress when it required only males to register – the registration requirement is based on gender at birth,” the site notes. “In the event of a resumption of the draft, individuals born male who have changed their gender to female can file a claim for an exemption from military service if they receive an order to report for examination or induction.”
The site continues “Individuals who are born female and changed their gender to male are not required to register.” There has been no word as to whether Burchett’s amendment will get a vote or receive majority support when the National Defense Authorization Act arrives at the House floor next week.
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