Drag artist pattie gonia brings joy and unity to environmental activism through performance and adventure

With over 1.5 million Instagram followers and a flair for combining high heels with hiking boots, drag artist and environmental activist Pattie Gonia is revolutionizing how we think about nature advocacy. The performer has raised an impressive $1.2 million for environmental nonprofits through spectacular stunts like hiking 100 miles in full drag into San Francisco, proving that environmental activism doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom.

In a recent interview on Mongabay’s podcast, Pattie Gonia argued that joy is the missing ingredient in environmental advocacy. “If we want people to join this movement, we have to make it freaking fun,” she emphasized. Her colorful approach to activism celebrates the hundreds of LGBTQ+ researchers and scientists working in environmental fields while making conservation accessible to broader audiences through the universal language of art and performance.

Beyond the sequins and sass, Pattie Gonia’s message centers on unity across traditional divides. She advocates for bringing together diverse outdoor communities—from hunters to urban environmentalists—around their shared love of nature. “We have more in common with each other than we do with these billionaires who oppress us all,” she points out, calling for coalition-building against the wealthy interests that exploit natural resources.

Her vision involves merging culture, art, and nature to create a more inclusive environmental movement that focuses on what unites humanity rather than what divides us. By making environmental advocacy joyful and accessible, Pattie Gonia demonstrates that protecting our planet can be both serious work and serious fun.