Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez would support “all genders” being drafted – including women, she said this week.
When asked on social media if she would support a female draft, she responded, “So long as we have a draft, I support people of all genders being drafted.”
Q: Would you support a female draft?
AOC: As long as we have a draft, I support people of all genders being drafted. pic.twitter.com/unMJB08r6q
— Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) April 4, 2019
“Equality,” she added during her Instagram livestream Wednesday night, during which approximately 8,000 people tuned in.
More than 8,000 people on Instagram are watching @AOC live stream herself putting together IKEA furniture, drinking wine and talking about the GOP and climate change pic.twitter.com/VTBoaku8o4
— Vera Bergengruen (@VeraMBergen) April 4, 2019
Ocasio-Cortez has amassed a huge social media following, with nearly 4 million followers on Twitter and 3 million Instagram followers.
Notably, she weighed in on a hot topic surrounding the issue of whether or not women should be required to register for a military draft.
In February, a federal judge ruled that women could legally be drafted, and that an all-male draft is unconstitutional.
The judge, District Court Judge Gray H. Miller, said that if women can serve in the military on the front lines and are allowed to serve in combat, they should also be able to be drafted.
And it had been reported in January that women may have to join the military draft under a new potential proposal.
The current law requires any U.S. male between 18 and 26 to register for a draft if the country falls upon a national emergency, which has not happened in the past 40 years.
As the role of women grows in the military, some suggest that women also be included in any future military drafts, while others argue against it.
A public service option in the U.S. is being evaluated by the National Commission on Military, National and Public Service to determine if women should be included in military drafts or if involuntary drafts should be discarded altogether.
The main function of the commission was to craft several proposals designed to increase national service prospects for both American men and women.
Some of the suggestions under consideration are increasing high school volunteer opportunities, making it easier to apply for federal jobs, and enhancing marketing to better attract and recognize military applicants.
The commission is still ongoing, and a recommendation won’t be made to the White House or Congress until March 2020.
It was reported earlier this week that there are 1 million U.S. men who face the consequences of not signing up for the draft before they turn 26 years old.
