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Drag queen Pattie Gonia is making the trails more inclusive

If you're not already following Pattie Gonia's every fabulous move, it's time to start

Pattie Gonia environmental activist Photo by: Samuel Crossley

Queer activist Pattie Gonia (the drag persona of Wyn Wiley), is passionate about both the environment and making outdoor recreation welcoming to everyone. She combines those passions in a unique (and often hilarious) way, and we can’t stop admiring her work.

Pattie is an environmentalist who uses her platform to highlight issues around climate change and inclusivity in the outdoors. “From a queer perspective, I was taught the outdoors was a place for toxic masculinity and that I was actually unnatural,” she said, in an interview with Vogue UK. “It’s so important that we continue to eliminate barriers for marginalized people to get outdoors.”

Pattie Gonia Alex Honnold
Pattie Gonia with climbers Jordan Cannon and Alex Honnold Photo: Samuel Crossley

The fantastically wardrobed Pattie (along with the help of some sponsors) recently hosted a 14-day backpacking and trail crew course, with 10 fully funded scholarships for LGBTQ2IA+ people ages 21-35. Scholarships entirely eliminated financial barriers for queer individuals attending, including travel costs and an almost unheard-of income loss reimbursement.

In 2021, the activist launched a job board to help queer people find work in the environmental and outdoor industries. So far, 2,448 people have posted their info to the board, 1,568 jobs have been posted from top outdoor brands and non-profits and 1,171 of the jobs listed on the board have been filled.

Pattie Gonia2
Photo: Samuel Crossley

Along with her projects highlighting environmentalism and the importance of feeling safe in outdoor spaces, Pattie uses her platform to share sustainability tips and has partnered with other champions of the outdoors, including climbing greats Jordan Cannon and Alex Honnold. “I go outside to create art and embrace nature. That’s why I love doing drag outdoors; it’s art,” she says.

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Pattie Gonia (@pattiegonia)

Pattie’s amazing outdoor attire and sense of humour are conveyed throughout her posts, but she brings valuable awareness to some serious causes, including the bullying of queer youth. Not only does she highlight these issues–Pattie shares how you can take action.

After a social media post resulted in the activist being attacked online, she confronted the issue on Instagram, sharing: “Following me does not make you an ally. What makes you an ally is when you realize you have access to people we could never reach within your families, churches and communities, and then make your voice heard for queer people that need you. You have nothing but an opportunity. What will you do with it? Speak up. Take action. Our queer youth need you.”

With her on-point environmental tips, bold beauty and biting wit, we can’t wait to see what Pattie’s next project will be.

If you’re interested in checking out Pattie’s job board and learning more about her activism, head here.

BONUS: Everything to Lose features a spoken-word poem by Pattie Gonia that calls people to reflect on the impacts their actions have on Mother Nature (or as Pattie says, “Mother Natch”).

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