Joshua Kelley (sailor)

Joshua J. Kelley (born 1993/1994) is a drag queen and United States Navy sailor.

Joshua Kelley
YN2 Kelley in June 2020
Born
Joshua J. Kelley

1993/1994 (age 29–30)
Other namesHarpy Daniels
Occupations
Military career
BranchUnited States Navy
Years2016–present (7.7 years)
RankPetty officer second class
Unit
Known forDrag queen performing

Personal life

Joshua J. Kelley was born in 1993 or 1994 as one of two twin boys, and grew up in Berwick, Pennsylvania.[1] Their father was a United States Navy senior chief counselor for 24 years.[2]

A fan of RuPaul's Drag Race in their teens, Kelley began pursuing drag as their passion after seeing a drag show at Bloomsburg University in 2013. Kelley's drag persona is named Harpy Daniels (named for their favorite animal, the harpy eagle),[1] who was named Miss Gay Harrisburg's pageant queen in 2015.[2] In 2020, Kelley identified as a gay man,[3] but was reportedly identifying as non-binary by 2023.[4][5]

Kelley joined the United States Navy in February 2016 for the financial stability afforded by the military.[2] They became a yeoman. Their first assignment was with VFA-115[3] aboard USS Ronald Reagan, with a stint in Yokosuka, Japan.[6] As of June 2020, they were stationed at Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division as a petty officer second class.[3]

Kelley performing as Harpy Daniels aboard Ronald Reagan (Nov 2017)

In their first two years, they were named VFA-115's Blue Jacket of the Year and voted their president for Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decisions; they became the public affairs officer for Reagan's Gay, Lesbian and Supporting Sailors; and received their first Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. They also perform as Harpy Daniels while serving in the Navy: Morale, Welfare and Recreation has sponsored Daniels performances, and they won second place in a 2017 lip sync competition, earning a Navy Exchange gift card for US$1,000 (equivalent to $1,194 in 2022).[2]

Despite the US military's spotty history with LGBT members (e.g. don't ask don't tell), Kelley said in 2018 that—in their experience—all that mattered was whether a sailor could go their job: "that's what it comes down to in the Navy. No one tells me I'm too feminine. I've not once had a bad experience as a gay man in the military".[6]

Digital ambassador

When, from October 2022 to March 2023, the Navy piloted a program "designed to explore the digital environment to reach a wide range of potential candidates" in an effort to recruit more sailors,[7] YN2 Kelley was one of five active sailors named a digital ambassador;[8] they used their inclusive platform to promote their positive experiences in the Navy as an LGBT enlistee and drag queen.[7]

This begs the question whether the Navy endorses the personal posts of its influencers and 'ambassadors.' If so, does the Navy endorse drag shows? Where does the Navy draw the line on promotion of the personal activities of its influencers? Would the Navy enlist burlesque dancers or exotic dancers to reach possible recruits? [...] Such activity is not appropriate for promotion in a professional workplace or the United States military.

Republican senators[8]

Two months after the program ended, right-wing extremists—including Libs of TikTok—learned of Kelley's inclusion and began publishing abusive material about and directed at the active-duty sailor.[4] Former Navy SEAL Robert J. O'Neill criticized the Navy's alleged unreadiness to combat China because of Kelley's participation in the program, saying, "I can't believe I fought for this bullshit."[9] Contemporaneously, a group of Republican senators (including Marco Rubio) wrote to Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro and requested he justify why the Navy partnered with Kelley, whom they alleged "promoted the use of Chinese-owned social media and inappropriately represented the service [with] behaviors and activities many Americans deem inappropriate."[8]

References
  1. Brammer, John Paul (30 August 2018). "Navy drag queen 'Harpy Daniels' is serving looks — and the country". NBC News. Archived from the original on 22 June 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023. Joshua Kelley, 24, performs drag for his fellow Navy sailors while also fulfilling the role of his squadron's administrative supervisor by day.
  2. Simkins, Jon (30 August 2018). "Sailor by day, performer by night — meet the Navy's drag queen, 'Harpy Daniels'". Military Times. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  3. NSWCDD Corporate Communications (26 June 2020). "NSWC Dahlgren Division LGBT Pride Month Profile – Yeoman 2nd Class (AW) Joshua Kelley". Naval Sea Systems Command. Virginia Beach, Virginia: United States Navy. Archived from the original on 31 January 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  4. "US Navy's drag sweetheart Harpy Daniels has a message for critics: 'Haters only hate when we're winning!'". Queerty. 3 May 2023. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023 – via MSN.
  5. Gunn, Haley (3 May 2023). "U.S. Navy Picks Active-Duty Drag Queen for Face of New Recruitment Program". Radar Online. Archived from the original on 18 May 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  6. Moritz-Rabson, Daniel (30 August 2018). "Navy Sailor Performs as Drag Queen 'Harpy Daniels' to Boost Troop Morale". Newsweek. ISSN 0028-9604. OCLC 818916146. Archived from the original on 10 May 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  7. Clark, Jeffrey (3 May 2023). "US Navy platformed 'drag queen influencer' to attract youth to the military in hiring crisis". Fox News. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023. Only 13% of 18 to 29-year-olds are 'highly willing' to join the military, according to a 2022 survey
  8. Shkolnikova, Svetlana (4 May 2023). "Drag queen sailor used by Navy to recruit draws Republican ire". Stars and Stripes. Washington, D.C. ISSN 0894-8542. OCLC 8777119. Archived from the original on 11 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  9. Phillips, Aleks (4 May 2023). "Harpy Daniels Slammed by Navy SEAL Who Took Down bin Laden: 'I'm Done'". Newsweek. ISSN 0028-9604. OCLC 818916146. Archived from the original on 4 May 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2023.

Further reading
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