A group of 14 Republican senators wrote a letter to Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro on Wednesday asking why the Navy enlisted a “TikTok drag queen” to boost recruiting numbers.
The senses. Ted Cruz, Rick Scott, Marco Rubio and others told Del Toro that “we are concerned about both the promotion of a banned app and behavior that many believe is inappropriate in a professional workplace.”
Their letter follows media coverage this week of how Yeoman 2nd Class Joshua Kelley had been named a ‘digital ambassador’ for the Navy under a pilot program that began in November and ran through November. March.
Kelley goes by the stage name “Harpy Daniels” and has a huge following on social media, including TikTok, with 60,800 followers and 1.3 million likes. Kelley is also on Instagram with nearly 9,000 followers.
In the videos, Kelley often starts out in uniform, then reappears as Harpy Daniels. The non-binary drag queen dances and often shares an inspirational message about being an LGBTQ+ sailor.
Yeoman 2nd Class Joshua Kelley, known as ‘Harpy Daniels’, was one of five Navy ‘digital ambassadors’ under a pilot program that ran through March
In the letter, Republicans first took issue with the Navy apparently endorsing TikTok, with Kelley being chosen as the “digital ambassador.”
They pointed to the No TikTok on Government Devices Act, which President Joe Biden signed into law in December, which prohibits downloading the app to US government devices due to its Chinese owner.
“The bottom line is that the Navy should not promote the use of TikTok, a banned app on Departmental devices, on the personal devices of service members or its ‘ambassadors,'” the letter said.
Republicans then moved on to the Navy’s choice to make a drag queen a “digital ambassador.”
“At a time when our nation’s military is facing a recruiting crisis, reaching broader segments of the eligible population is more important than ever — but not at the expense of privacy, security, or convenience. professionalism,” the Republicans argued.
In the letter, they ask Del Toro if the Navy approves of drag shows.
“Would the Navy recruit burlesque dancers or exotic dancers to reach potential recruits? ask the senators. “Such activity is not appropriate for promotion in a professional workplace or in the US military,” they add.
The senators then ask Del Toro a number of questions about the ambassador program, including whether any federal funds were spent.
They gave the Secretary of the Navy until May 24 to respond.
Kelley goes by the stage name “Harpy Daniels” and has a huge following on social media, including TikTok, with 60,800 followers and 1.3 million likes. Kelley is also on Instagram with nearly 9,000 followers
Kelley joined the Navy in 2016 and gave a drag performance for the first time as a sailor while deployed in 2018.
In a November post, when Kelley was named a “digital ambassador,” the drag queen wrote that sharing the drag with other sailors “has been a blessing.”
“This experience has given me so much strength, courage and ambition to continue to defend and represent gay sailors!” Kelley wrote.
“Thank you to the Navy for giving me this opportunity! I do not speak for the Navy but simply share my experience in the Navy! Hooyah, and let’s go kill! the drag queen added.
LGBTQ+ service members have fought for decades to serve openly.
In 1993, President Bill Clinton signed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” which banned American gays and lesbians from serving openly, but was meant to ban discrimination.
This policy was reversed by President Barack Obama and Democratic majorities in Congress in 2010.
In 2016, under the Obama administration, the ban on transgender service members was lifted.
However, in July 2017, President Donald Trump reintroduced the ban via tweet.
President Joe Biden reversed the ban on his fifth day in office in January 2021.
More broadly, Republicans have continued to target the LGBTQ community with new laws.
In 2023, the American Civil Liberties Union tracked 471 anti-LGBTQ bills pushed across the country.
