Drag queen and climate activist Pattie Gonia made history this week by becoming the first person to deliver a TED Talk in drag on the organization’s main stage. The nearly 10-minute talk, titled Why Joy is a Serious Way to Take Action, was filmed in October 2024 but was only released this week.
Gonia, known for blending drag performance with environmental activism, took the stage wearing a pink, upcycled dress emblazoned with the words “Climate Change is a Drag” in bold, sparkly letters. The performance-based talk featured Gonia’s message that joy can be a strategic tool in combating climate change, offering a powerful and entertaining perspective on how to address the planet’s urgent environmental crisis.
During the talk, Gonia explained that “joy is a strategy to fight back,” a lesson she said she learned through drag. “Drag taught me that you can take fighting for something seriously without taking yourself too seriously,” she shared. For Gonia, drag is not only an art form but a way to inspire creative thinking and a new approach to problem-solving.
In her talk, Gonia elaborated on how drag “is an invitation to build new futures through creativity, diversity, and joy.” She recalled how, during a personal “flop era,” drag helped her see new possibilities for her future and embrace the process of transformation. Gonia extended this analogy to the planet, noting that Earth is currently undergoing a “flop era” of its own and could benefit from the transformative power of drag.
The climate movement, Gonia argued, can learn valuable lessons from drag performers. She challenged common misconceptions about drag, noting that “people often think that as drag performers, we are hiding who we are, but babe, the one time I can’t hide is when I look like this.” Drag, she asserted, does not conceal identity; it reveals it and celebrates diversity. “Drag welcomes our diversity,” Gonia said, emphasizing that the climate movement should embrace creativity and inclusion as essential components of solving the climate crisis.
Gonia also highlighted the role of diversity in climate activism, stating that it is essential to “our best solutions.” She pointed out that some people in the climate movement may not feel safe or comfortable expressing themselves fully, and as a result, they may be holding back their most innovative ideas. She reflected on how a well-known environmental activist once told her to abandon drag and focus on more traditional methods of activism. Instead, she said her refusal to do so has helped her raise over $2 million for climate action.
“I want a climate movement rooted in fertile soil that supports all of our growth,” she declared.
In addition to discussing the power of joy in activism, Gonia took a moment to reflect on the historical role of drag queens in activism. She reminded the audience that drag performers have long been at the forefront of protests, particularly in the queer community. “When queer people were beaten in their homes, put in jail just for existing, when we had the statistics and the facts on the millions of queer people dying of AIDS — yet no one was joining our fight — drag performers turned pain into joy, and in doing so, welcomed millions more people to fight with us,” Gonia said.
The activist also criticized the climate movement for focusing too much on despair, stating that “the problem in the climate movement isn’t just the abundance of carbon; it is the lack of joy.” While she acknowledged that facts and the stark realities of climate change can raise awareness, she believes that joy is what motivates people to take action. “Joy is strategic because joy inspires momentum, and joy is an inside job,” she emphasized.
To inspire more joy in the climate movement, Gonia suggested a simple but profound action: “Get outside and encourage others to fall in love with the outdoors.” She explained that “we fight for what we love,” and by cultivating a deeper appreciation for the environment, people can become more motivated to protect it.
Gonia concluded her TED Talk with a compelling message about the power of joy in making the climate movement irresistible. “Joy provides an unbelievable opportunity to make the climate movement irresistible,” she said. “Do not underestimate the power of joy. We deserve more than doom and gloom because this is the only planet with a Beyoncé on it.”
Pattie Gonia’s TED Talk marks an important moment in both the climate and LGBTQ+ activism spaces. By blending the art of drag with serious discussions on climate action, Gonia has showcased how creativity, joy, and diversity can drive meaningful change.
