In a letter on Wednesday, Rep. Keith Ellison called on the director of the Selective Service System to revise SSS policy to be inclusive of transgender men and women.
“The current registration policy for the Selective Service System (SSS) is inconsistent with federal policy and presents a roadblock to college for transgender men and women,” Ellison wrote.
Federal law requires all men to register with the selective service in order to qualify for federal student aid, but defines “men” as those whose birth record reads “male” at birth. The SSS system does not account for those whose circumstances have changed since birth even when the changes have been made legal through a court order.
“When a young transgender man submits his SSS registration, he is told that his birth records indicate he is “female” and he may not register,” Ellison wrote. “However, when he later submits his Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), he is told that he does not qualify because he has not enrolled in SSS and must contact SSS for an exemption from registration.” Ellison notes that transgender women face a similar process.
Ellison notes that “SSS practice appears to be at odds with federal practice elsewhere,” noting that the Department of Health and Human Services recognizes state-issued amended birth records.
“Transgender women and men face poverty, violence, and discrimination at a far higher rate than the general population, the availability of federal financial aid may be a lifeline to achieving a safe and successful life,” Ellison concluded.
Ellison posted the letter on Twitter:
Trans students are finding it difficult to get college funding because of outdated policy at @SSS_gov.
— Keith Ellison (@keithellison) October 21, 2015
Here’s my letter asking them to take discrimination out of college fin. aid. Thanks @outfrontmn for leading the way pic.twitter.com/XyHXNsLdNo
— Keith Ellison (@keithellison) October 21, 2015