Climate activist and drag performer Pattie Gonia is speaking out publicly for the first time about the federal lawsuit filed against her by the outdoor apparel giant Patagonia, and the message is clear: this fight is about much more than trademarks.
“Today I’m speaking publicly for the first time about the lawsuit Patagonia Inc. filed against me, a climate activist, in federal court,” Gonia wrote. “This is not a joke. This is real.”
What the Lawsuit Says
“Patagonia told the media they’re only suing me for $1,” she continues. “What they’re actually trying to do is take away my name permanently and threaten me with more than $1M million in legal fees. This is not a brand conflict. This is a corporation trying to erase an activist. This is how corporations bully individuals who cannot match their resources.”
Gonia has shared a nearly 7-minute video explaining the situation and providing more context in carousels and in her open letter to Patagonia Inc. “Let’s make some peace and get back to our common love of the planet, including our namesake region in South America named Patagonia.”
Where It All Began
At the top of the video, Gonia explained the origin of her name. She revealed that the persona was created back in 2018 after she wore heels on a backpacking trip and began documenting the experience online. The drag name was inspired by the Patagonia region in South America.
“A name that predates me and the clothing brand by 500 years.”
Over the years, Pattie Gonia evolved into one of the most recognizable queer voices in outdoor activism, blending drag performance, environmental advocacy, hiking culture, and LGBTQ+ visibility into a massive online platform.
According to Gonia, that platform has now grown into a community of more than 3 million people. She also says the organization has hired over 600 artists and advocates, toured drag shows across the country centered on climate solutions, and helped raise $3.7 million for nonprofits and environmental causes.
What Patagonia Is Claiming in the Lawsuit
The lawsuit centers around Patagonia’s claim that Pattie Gonia’s branding and business ventures infringe on the company’s trademarks. According to legal filings, the company argues the drag performer’s use of the name has caused “irreparable” harm to the brand. Gonia, however, says the accusations feel especially absurd given the type of work being targeted.
In the video caption, she says Patagonia specifically objected to “motivational speaking services in support of environmental sustainability” as well as “organizing, arranging, and conducting trail and hiking events.”
For many followers, those are exactly the kinds of things Pattie Gonia has become known for over the years. The drag queen and environmental advocate has built a massive online following by combining queer visibility with climate activism, encouraging LGBTQ+ people to feel welcome in outdoor spaces that have historically excluded them.
In a statement issued in January, Patagonia said it “cannot selectively choose to enforce our rights based on whether we agree with a particular point of view.” They also claim Gonia has used their logo in her branding, which the activist firmly denies.
“Patagonia Inc. claims they’re in business to save the home planet,” Gonia wrote. “If this is what saving the home planet looks like to them, then one of us has profoundly misunderstood the assignment, and it’s not me.”
Gonia also revealed that she remained silent for months while trying to resolve the situation privately. According to the post, the lawsuit has been ongoing behind the scenes for four months.
“Over the last four months since the lawsuit was filed, I have stayed silent and worked every channel I had to resolve this without going to court,” she explained.
Ultimately, she said the decision came down to two options: allow the loss of the Pattie Gonia name and the work attached to it, or fight back publicly.
“The erasure of my name, my advocacy, my community, and everyone I employ or fight for myself and fight for us. So I’m fighting.”
The video concludes with a direct call aimed at the outdoor retailer: “Patagonia, drop the lawsuit.”
She also encouraged supporters to speak out in a “respectful and peaceful way” by urging Patagonia to reconsider the legal battle. Gonia added that more updates regarding the case are still to come.
