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Jasper, 22 years old, identifies as queer, FtM (female to male), and mixed race. We asked him to share some of his experiences.

I received a letter a few years ago from the Selective Service stating that if I didn’t register I would be fined $25,000 and sent to jail. I didn’t know what to do with [this letter], so I tossed it.

I got recruited when I changed my sex on my driver's license. But if I lived, like, in Ohio, I wouldnt have been recruited because I couldnt even change my sex on my driver's license.

Later on that same year, I decided that it was time for me to go back to school, so I went to find out about financial aid. I was told that I couldn’t apply because I wasn’t registered with the Selective Service. I started to realize that, as a young man, I now had responsibilities to the world that I hadn’t had as a young woman. I found out that I could send in proof that I was a transsexual and they couldn’t push for me to join the military. They never responded; instead they sent another letter giving me ten days to register or I would be sent to jail. Out of fear I registered. I wonder sometimes what will happen if I’m called to duty, but at least now I can go to school.

It totally is different for trans folks. If I had been a bio[logical] guy, I would have been recruited when I was 18. But because I was trans, it didn’t happen until I was 21. I got recruited when I changed my sex on my driver’s license. But if I lived, like, in Ohio, I wouldn’t have been recruited because I couldn’t even change my sex on my driver’s license. It’s really different depending on what state you are in. If you live in a state where you can’t legally change your gender, then you wouldn’t be identified as an FtM. But if you were MtF, you probably would be asked to register.

Also, once in the military, it would probably be different for trans folks because they wouldn’t know where to put you. Like which bunks would they put you in, or which bathrooms would you use?

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