U.S. Navy’s Drag Ambassador Joshua Kelley Faces Newfound Hate

May 6, 2023
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But Joshua Kelley responds, “Haters only hate when we’re winning!”

Active-duty Yeoman 2nd Class Joshua Kelley has been performing drag for the Navy for the better part of the last 5 years. Kelley, who is non-binary, says they had previously experienced nothing but acceptance from their fellow military service members. But now, with the recent spike in anti-LGBTQ+ hate (particularly against the drag and trans communities), some retired members are rearing their ugly heads.

Joshua Kelley's drag performances in the US Navy go back to 2018. Then stationed in Yokosuka, Japan on the USS Ronald Reagan, Kelley performed as their drag persona Harpy Daniels as a part of the Navy’s Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Department, which offers "theaters, barber shops, service stations, clothing stores, dry cleaning, optical shops, package stores, and other sales stores." Kelley says they had an incredible and welcoming experience being Queer in the Navy, even telling NBC news, "'No one tells me I’m too feminine. I’ve not once had a bad experience as a gay man in the military.'" All was wonderful, and for almost 5 years they faced no backlash.

Then, last fall, Kelley announced that the Navy had recruited them and a handful of other service members to be “Digital Ambassadors” in a move that hoped to increase recruitment, particularly because today's military is decidedly more welcoming to the LGBTQ+ community. It's worth noting that they were not paid to be these ambassadors, nor were any official marketing materials distributed that included their images. The digital ambassadors simply used their already-existing social media presence to celebrate their time in the Navy.

Now, some inactive members of the military have started sharing their hate, and claiming people like Kelley weaken the United States defenses. Kelley wasn't having any of it, snapping back, "Queer ppl were oppressed in the military for years only untill [sic] 2011 and trans people since 2021. You only want to support the military when it benefits you and doesn't involve queer people. Yet the military is the largest diverse, and adaptable organization in the US.

You're better off calling me a slur than using content from 5 years ago. Yet that video you're sharing that was published in 2018, you had nothing to say till now?"

Kelley finished the post by saying, "Well, as a service member, a queen, and an open queer person. You don’t scare me and you won’t stop the LGBTQ+ community for thriving! Haters only hate when we’re winning!"

Those who served alongside them jumped to their defenses, with one saying, "I am so beyond PROUD to be able to serve with you!!! Keep being your glorious brave and inspiring self!!! You are showing that it’s OK to be different and serve. YOU are making the 1% that chooses to serve a greater 1% you and all of my LGBTQIA brothers and sisters in arms. Keep being absolutely brave and amazing and eff those run-down forgotten-about veterans that have hate in their hearts."

There's no place for hate in the US military, particularly when our Queer family is willing to put their lives on the line to defend our country's freedoms. If you want to see some more great info about Harpy Daniels, check out their interview with the USS Constitution Museum here!

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