GOP lawmaker proposes requiring transgender men to register with Selective Service in case of a military draft

Republican Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee has put forward a proposal that would require transgender men to register with Selective Service in case the nation ever has another military draft.

The term transgender men refers to biological women who identify as men while the term transgender women refers to biological men who identify as women.

Currently, while males are required to register with Selective Service, females are not. According to the Selective Service System website, males are required to register regardless of how they choose to identify.

"Selective Service bases the registration requirement on gender assigned at birth and not on gender identity or on gender reassignment. Individuals who are born male and changed their gender to female are still required to register. Individuals who are born female and changed their gender to male are not required to register," the site states.

"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."

Burchett put forward the proposal as an amendment to a defense measure. The amendment would stipulate that "the terms 'male citizen of the United States' and 'male person' include a transgender person who identifies as male."

"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 said in a statement, according to Military.com. "This group of people is more protected than any other group, and it's not right," he said.

America has not had a draft in decades.

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