Overview

• The US Navy approached drag queen influencer Joshua Kelley to help address a recruitment crisis but faced criticism from Republicans and veterans.
• Kelley, who performs as Harpy Daniels, served as a Digital Ambassador for the Navy from October 2022 to March 2023 to appeal to youth.
• The initiative aimed to reach potential recruits on social media, especially TikTok, but was seen as promoting inappropriate behavior by critics.
• Republican lawmakers and a former Navy SEAL questioned whether the program actually boosted recruitment and retention.
• The controversy reflects ongoing debates over LGBTQ rights and drag queens amid pushes to limit their expression.