The Navy’s appointment of a non-binary drag queen as its first “digital ambassador” has sparked anger, disbelief and derision from the Department of Defense.
Yeoman 2nd Class Joshua Kelley, whose stage name is Harpy Daniels, announced on TikTok in November that she would become the Navy’s first “digital ambassador,” highlighting her journey from performing aboard from 2018 to becoming an “advocate.” for those who were “oppressed in the service for years.”
A Navy spokesperson tells DailyMail.com that the digital ambassador program was a pilot that ended in March 2023.
Kelley’s involvement drew new criticism this week.
Yeoman 2nd Class Joshua Kelley, whose stage name is Harpy Daniels, announced on TikTok in November that she would become the Navy’s first “digital ambassador”
Criticism: Many were outraged by the Navy’s decision to focus on diversity in its recruiting campaign
On her now-deleted Instagram page, she listed her pronouns as “she/her,” but also referred to herself as non-binary.
While Kelley’s appointment isn’t new and she’s not the only digital ambassador (she’s one of five), her role has only recently drawn criticism.
Many have likened her to Dylan Mulvaney, the trans activist whose association with Bud Light caused a PR crisis for the brand and sales plummeted.
Now some veterans and conservatives are criticizing the Navy for trying to solve a recruiting crisis by hiring a drag queen.
Kelley has a large following on TikTok, where she has been sharing videos of her drag performances aboard naval vessels for years.
Kelley said her Navy experience has “brought so much strength, courage and ambition to continue to be an advocate and” [representative] of foreign sailors’
Last November, as part of an effort to boost recruitment, she and four others were given the unpaid, digital ambassador roles.
While her performances and non-binary identification have been applauded by many — including some vets — others are outraged that the Navy thinks it could solve the answer to the recruiting crisis.
They say the decision will only make American enemies mock her capabilities and strategy.
The US Navy is now using Drag Queen Joshua Kelley (AKA Harpy Daniels) to recruit new enlistees.
“This should frighten our enemies,” joked one critic.
Kelley, pictured as Harpy Daniels, said she was inspired by the drag queens on RuPaul’s Drag Race, which she started watching when he was 16
Yeoman 2nd Class Joshua Kelley, whose stage name is Harpy Daniels, announced on TikTok in November that she would become the Navy’s first “digital ambassador,” highlighting her journey from performing aboard from 2018 to becoming an “advocate.” for those who were “repressed in service for years”
The Navy’s decision to promote Kelley was part of its larger effort to reach Gen Z
“So the US military is missing recruiting targets by miles… and instead of getting a lead, their strategy is to hire a drag queen influencer named Harpy Daniels to hit recruiting targets?
“I’m sure China is terrified!” said another.
In her video, Daniels described championing LGBTQ causes in the military.
She hit back at some critics online, labeling them “homophobic.”
Kelley said she started dressing in cross-dressing and performing in shows years before she joined the Navy, taking inspiration from the queens on RuPaul’s Drag Race — which he started watching at age 16.
She then first began performing on ships after a sanctioned MWR (Morale. Welfare and Recreation) lip sync competition in 2017 while deployed on the USS Ronald Reagan, becoming a regular in the competitions, according to NBC News.
The officer insists she has never experienced harassment in the Navy, but when she was scheduled to perform at a diversity, equality, and inclusion event at Langley Joint Air Force Base in the summer of 2022, it caused a stir among many. conservatives and Christian extremists. ‘
A recent survey found that only 13 percent of 18-29 year olds are “very willing” to join the Navy, while 25 percent are “somewhat willing.”
Many have compared Kelley to Dylan Mulvaney, the trans activist whose association with Bud Light caused a PR crisis for the brand and sales plummeted.