Posted on Jul 17, 2015
"Teen Girl Sues So She Can Legally Sign Up for the Draft"
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From: Yahoo
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Women have long been welcome to join all branches of the military, and since the ban on combat was lifted in 2013, they’ve been able to fight in battle for their country as well.
But only men are required to register for the draft through the Selective Service System, which they must do after they turn 18, even though the U.S. hasn’t had a draft since 1973.
So when Elizabeth Kyle-LaBell, a recent high school grad from New Jersey who is contemplating becoming a military veterinarian, tried to register on the Selective Service’s website, she was barred from doing so as soon as she checked the box indicating her sex.
Seventeen-year-old Elizabeth, who goes by Liz, says that’s discrimination. “I hadn’t even entered my age yet when the website directed me to a page saying I couldn’t register,” Kyle-LaBell tells Yahoo Parenting. “I feel that if a woman wants to register for the draft, she should be able to.”
To overturn what she describes as a policy that violates women’s civil rights, Kyle-LaBell and her mom, Allison Kyle, filed a class-action lawsuit against the Selective Service System. As a minor, Kyle-LaBell wasn’t able to file it herself, so her mother filed on her behalf, she says.
“With both males and females available for such roles today, the two sexes are now similarly situated for draft registration purposes, and there is no legitimate reason for the government to discriminate against the female class, so equal protection applies,” the complaint, which identifies Kyle-LaBell by her initials, E.K.L., states.
“Further, with both males and females available for such combat roles, there is no reasonable basis for infringing the associational interests of the female class by preventing them from registering.”
The suit aims to overturn a 1981 Supreme Court decision that upheld the men-only draft registration rule. “The court decided that the draft is there to create a pool of people who can be in combat, and since women were barred from combat, it wasn’t discrimination to bar them from the draft,” Roy Den Hollander, Kyle-LaBell’s attorney, tells Yahoo Parenting. “Now women are allowed to be in combat, but they still can’t register.”
While he can’t comment on the pending lawsuit, Pat Schuback, public affairs specialist for the Selective Service System, tells Yahoo Parenting that his agency isn’t opposed to allowing women to sign up. “We’re not opposed to women registering; we just follow the law.”
Since the suit was just filed and no court date has been set, Kyle-LaBell is spending her summer like other new high school grads, scoring support for her bold move from her friends and preparing for her freshman year of college at Moravian College in Pennsylvania.
Her goal is to make the draft gender-neutral: either both men and women should be required to register or it should be voluntary for both sexes. “If women are allowed to fight in a war, we should be allowed to sign up for the draft,” she says.
https://www.yahoo.com/parenting/teen-girl-sues-so-she-can-legally-sign-up-for-the [login to see] 52.html
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Women have long been welcome to join all branches of the military, and since the ban on combat was lifted in 2013, they’ve been able to fight in battle for their country as well.
But only men are required to register for the draft through the Selective Service System, which they must do after they turn 18, even though the U.S. hasn’t had a draft since 1973.
So when Elizabeth Kyle-LaBell, a recent high school grad from New Jersey who is contemplating becoming a military veterinarian, tried to register on the Selective Service’s website, she was barred from doing so as soon as she checked the box indicating her sex.
Seventeen-year-old Elizabeth, who goes by Liz, says that’s discrimination. “I hadn’t even entered my age yet when the website directed me to a page saying I couldn’t register,” Kyle-LaBell tells Yahoo Parenting. “I feel that if a woman wants to register for the draft, she should be able to.”
To overturn what she describes as a policy that violates women’s civil rights, Kyle-LaBell and her mom, Allison Kyle, filed a class-action lawsuit against the Selective Service System. As a minor, Kyle-LaBell wasn’t able to file it herself, so her mother filed on her behalf, she says.
“With both males and females available for such roles today, the two sexes are now similarly situated for draft registration purposes, and there is no legitimate reason for the government to discriminate against the female class, so equal protection applies,” the complaint, which identifies Kyle-LaBell by her initials, E.K.L., states.
“Further, with both males and females available for such combat roles, there is no reasonable basis for infringing the associational interests of the female class by preventing them from registering.”
The suit aims to overturn a 1981 Supreme Court decision that upheld the men-only draft registration rule. “The court decided that the draft is there to create a pool of people who can be in combat, and since women were barred from combat, it wasn’t discrimination to bar them from the draft,” Roy Den Hollander, Kyle-LaBell’s attorney, tells Yahoo Parenting. “Now women are allowed to be in combat, but they still can’t register.”
While he can’t comment on the pending lawsuit, Pat Schuback, public affairs specialist for the Selective Service System, tells Yahoo Parenting that his agency isn’t opposed to allowing women to sign up. “We’re not opposed to women registering; we just follow the law.”
Since the suit was just filed and no court date has been set, Kyle-LaBell is spending her summer like other new high school grads, scoring support for her bold move from her friends and preparing for her freshman year of college at Moravian College in Pennsylvania.
Her goal is to make the draft gender-neutral: either both men and women should be required to register or it should be voluntary for both sexes. “If women are allowed to fight in a war, we should be allowed to sign up for the draft,” she says.
https://www.yahoo.com/parenting/teen-girl-sues-so-she-can-legally-sign-up-for-the [login to see] 52.html
Posted in these groups: 
Women in the Military
Equality
Women in the Military Equality
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 38
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Kudos to her for wanting to be considered but really, suing to get on the draft list? Why not just join if you are that gung ho. If you are just trying to make a statement, I would think there are better ways.
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SGT Jeremiah B.
SSG Izzy Abbass, it's the government. Sometimes you have to sue to get the law changed. This is one of the few times it makes sense. Of course, law makers could just draft up an amendment that removes the gender requirement and the lawsuit would disappear...
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I think this has more to do with making a name with the women's right movement then anything. Just my gut feeling. I have always felt the Selective Service for just males was wrong, and should be both genders for the drafts. And I joined the army. There are ways to get the ball rolling to change the law of the land, then for a Female 17 year old to long onto the SSS.gov page that SHE KNOWS already she can't register for- to register, and then sue.
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SSG Warren Swan
Interesting point. So are you saying she's playing into the Feminist movement? And if she is do they know this actually benefits them with no work involved? I'm thinking in this case, the system is broken, but really doesn't need fixing.
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And.......?
These days males don't join the military by registering for selective service, they go to a recruiter... I'm not quite sure what she was trying to accomplish.
These days males don't join the military by registering for selective service, they go to a recruiter... I'm not quite sure what she was trying to accomplish.
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SGT Jeremiah B.
If you look at it from the perspective of an actual draft - the law essentially says that in time of war, we just need the boys. Sure, you can enlist if you want, but you're not going to contribute enough to be worth forcing into it. It's a throwback to the days when women's contributions in war weren't particularly valued.
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LT Jessica Kellogg
There are a ton of laws on the books that are out of date. In my home town you can hang someone for stealing your horse....
The selective service laws fit the time; since it hasn't been used since then, they haven't been updated.
As a female service member, this is the least of my concerns.
The selective service laws fit the time; since it hasn't been used since then, they haven't been updated.
As a female service member, this is the least of my concerns.
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I've been saying that since I was in the military. Why is it just men are required to sign up for the draft and not women. I believe that with todays politics that every person age 18 to 34, regardless of gender, should have to sign up for selective service.
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Why not register them? It symbolic in that we havent drafted anyone and probably wont short of World War III! But it shows that women serve alongside the men. Israel not only registers but actually drafts women. Many women serve in combat and special ops. The perfomance of women in Israel convinces me that women can serve in any military role.
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I think that it is admirable that this young woman wants to play a part, but I don't completely understand what the problem is ....... Is there is an advantage to be gained by registering for the draft, instead of just volunteering when she comes of age, or whenever she is ready?
Maybe i'm just out of touch, considering that I did live in Germany for over 25 years, and have only returned about 4 years ago, but I just don't see the importance of being able to register for the draft, as opposed to being able to volunteer to serve.
If this has to do with signing up for Military service, she can do so when she turns 18, or when she graduates college. Is it not enough that this young lady can be prepared to join the Military if the US should start a callup? I just get a feeling that this is more publicity based than the act of someone ready to step up, at a moments notice, and do whatever she can to defend her Country.
Maybe i'm just out of touch, considering that I did live in Germany for over 25 years, and have only returned about 4 years ago, but I just don't see the importance of being able to register for the draft, as opposed to being able to volunteer to serve.
If this has to do with signing up for Military service, she can do so when she turns 18, or when she graduates college. Is it not enough that this young lady can be prepared to join the Military if the US should start a callup? I just get a feeling that this is more publicity based than the act of someone ready to step up, at a moments notice, and do whatever she can to defend her Country.
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SGT Jeremiah B.
PVT Robert Gresham, there is no benefit aside from equality in an area that actually skews in women's favor. She's just saying that if women can serve, women should be expected to sign up for the draft as well. It's a decidedly selfless action, which is a little jarring since we're talking about lawsuits.
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I wonder how I can sign on to this lawsuit. I resent that the 18 year old me had to be registered to get financial aid for college but 18 year old women did not. That's discrimination!
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PO1 Henry Sherrill
Meaning no disrespect to you CW02. Signing up for financial aid for college should not be the main reason for entering the US Military. Your sense of duty to your country should be the primary reason to enlist. College money is just one of the several benefits that the military offers. The main mission of the military is defense of this country and its constitution. The next is to kill the enemy of our country. while on deployment I had several individuals tell me "I didn't sign up for this $hit. I signed up for the college program." To which I respond; you need to get your priorities straight. We are here to defend our rights as AMERICANS, and to destroy those that threaten our way of life.
CW2 Walker I do not intend my response to say that about you or any other officer in the military. I just wanted to let you know how I personally feel. HUA
CW2 Walker I do not intend my response to say that about you or any other officer in the military. I just wanted to let you know how I personally feel. HUA
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CW3 (Join to see)
My comment had nothing to do with JOINING the military. I didn't join until I was 22. I entered college, however, at 18. Had to be REGISTERED FOR SELECTIVE SERVICE at 18 in order to get financial aid for college at all, NON-military related.
But nice try in deflecting the actual point.
But nice try in deflecting the actual point.
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There's plenty of recruiting stations out there... You can walk-in no appointments !! Don't make a big issue out of it!!
In the other hand, good for you, at least somebody is proud and willing to serve the country.
In the other hand, good for you, at least somebody is proud and willing to serve the country.
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