Pattie Gonia Is Taking Drag Outdoors for Climate Activism
Out (Out Traveler’s sister magazine) named Gonia to the esteemed Out100 list in 2020. Since then, Gonia has only increased their audience, posting videos hiking and rock climbing in heels via TikTok (@pattiegonia) that have generated nearly 2 million likes and over 129,000 followers — and garnered them coverage in Vogue. “I became an environmentalist very slowly,” Wiley mused. “Through failing every single day and through every moment where I’ve realized being an environmentalist doesn’t mean perfection and the goal isn’t to change anyone else’s mind…but instead it’s about holding myself accountable to change what I can in my life, and remain curious and a lifelong learner about our planet and how to ally it.” For Gonia that has included what they call “sustainable drag.” In other words, “applying the ethics behind sustainability and applying it to my art form of drag.
What it looks like is normalizing outfit repeating, buying less, reusing more, upcycling pieces from old looks and making it work with what I’ve got instead of thinking the solution is buying something new.
I love the chance to make outfits out of trash, wigs out of wrappers, and other creative ways to turn my waste in my life as Wyn…into repurposed looks as Pattie.”Wiley considers himself an “intersectional environmentalist” centering “ways in which injustices happening to marginalized communities, and the Earth are interconnected.
It brings injustices done to the most vulnerable communities, and the Earth, to the forefront and does not minimize or silence social inequality.” Through Gonia, Wiley has amplified their own voice to gain support for protecting the planet and has encouraged more queens and other LGBTQ+ people to become involved in outdoor.
