Beloved drag queen, performer, and environmentalist Pattie Gonia just proved that activism can be bold, joyful, and sparkly, all at once.
In less than a week, Pattie raised $1 million for charity by backpacking 100 miles in full drag, trekking from about 100 miles north of San Francisco down the coast and into the Bay Area for her final drag show of the year.
Decked out in full makeup and a signature red wig, Pattie shared updates from the trail, including a milestone moment at Mile 92, where she could finally see the Golden Gate Bridge ahead as her GoFundMe crossed the $1 million mark. More than 31,000 donors contributed, with an average donation of $30.
@pattiegoniathis is it. the final stretch to backpack 100 miles in drag to raise $1M for outdoor nonprofits.
The funds will support eight organizations focused on diversifying the outdoors, including Brave Trails, Queer Outdoor Expedition, Vámonos Outside, YMCA Camp Kitaki, and the Intersectional Environmentalist Film Project, among others.
Pattie, whose off-stage name is Wyn Wiley, has long blended drag with environmental and social justice work, hosting “drag shows for the planet” and uplifting LGBTQ+ voices in outdoor spaces, including earlier this year, when she helped raise a giant trans pride flag in Yosemite.
The 100-mile journey ends right on time with a celebratory drag show on December 6 at The Warfield in San Francisco, followed, hopefully, by a well-earned shower and some rest.
As Pattie put it best: this journey may be wild, but it’s powered by community, and it’s not over yet.
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