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Thought about Selective Service registration lately? Maybe you should…

Here’s the deal: U.S. law currently requires all men who are citizens or permanent residents of this country,and between 18–26 years of age, to register for the Selective Service. Yeah, queer guys have to register, too, even though the military doesn’t want any queers, and sometimes goes on anti-gay witchhunts. It’s hypocritical, but it’s the law.

The Selective Service is part of the government machinery used to register guys and select guys for involuntary service in the armed forces. If the government decides that there aren’t enough voluntary enlistments for military needs, then the government sets up a military draft. The draft is whatever process the government decides on to actually choose who’s going to be called up for service. The government could also decide to include young women in Selective Service registration and a military draft.

Right now, there’s no formal military draft, and although it’s not very likely one will be put into place soon, you never know. Depending upon circumstances, political winds can shift really fast.

Some guys refuse to register with the Selective Service because they’re opposed to war in general. If they were drafted into the military, they would consider themselves conscientious objectors, or people who are not willing to kill or otherwise harm others.

Unfortunately, you can’t say on your Selective Service registration form that you’re a conscientious objector, or that you object to registration for other reasons. What happens if you don’t register? You can be put in prison or fined up to $250,000. You can lose federal financial aid that would help you go to college or get vocational education. You wouldn’t qualify for federal jobs or job training programs. In addition, some states also restrict your access to financial aid and state jobs.

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