Climate Activist Pattie Gonia Breaks Silence on Lawsuit With Patagonia
Climate activist Wyn Wiley, better known by the drag-queen persona they use for climate work, Pattie Gonia, has broken their silence on a lawsuit filed against them by outdoor brand Patagonia.
In January, the outdoor clothing brand Patagonia filed a lawsuit against Wiley/Pattie Gonia in federal court claiming “irreparable” harm to the brand by doing “motivational speaking services in support of environmental sustainability” and “organizing, arranging, and conducting trail and hiking events,” according to an Instagram post by Pattie Gonia on May 27.
The brand’s own statement, which was published on January 21, 2026, cites that the brand filed the lawsuit due to “Pattie Gonia’s use of a near-copy of our name commercially – including as a brand for environmental advocacy – and her trademark application seeking to obtain the exclusive right to use that name going forward, pose long-term threats to Patagonia’s brand and our activism.”
The statement says that apparel and merch sold online by Pattie Gonia in 2024 used versions of Patagonia’s logo and that in 2025, Pattie Gonia filed a trademark application seeking the exclusive rights to use the brand “Pattie Gonia” to “clothing and apparel, promote environmental activism, engage in online marketing and endorsements, and more.”
Patagonia’s statement claims that doing so would directly overlap with the work the brand does and the products it provides.
In the statement they released on May 27, both via text and video, Pattie Gonia argues that the consequences of the lawsuit would take away their activism, career, and livelihoods of the team they employ. They also address claims made in Patagonia’s statement, saying that they have never used the brand’s logo, font, or anything from their brand and that the trademark application was filed not to compete with Patagonia, but to protect their own work, citing a similar scenario with another drag queen.
Pattie Gonia also calls out one of the more polarizing aspects of the lawsuit: both the drag queen and the outdoor brand have publicly taken stances on climate activism that are, in effect, two sides of the same coin. Notably, Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard gave the company away in 2022 as a stance in the fight against climate change, transferring control to a “Purpose Trust.” The brand memorably published a banner across their website stating ‘Earth is Our Only Shareholder.’ The company prides itself on its activism, including the more than $240M in contributions to environmental organizations and reinvested profits.
Wiley’s drag queen alter-ego was born in 2018 when they donned a pair of high-heeled boots on a backpacking trip. Pattie Gonia quickly captivated an audience via social media by recreating in full drag, featuring creative and often up-cycled outfits. The quippy, humorous videos also drew in Pattie Gonia’s now-massive following as they educated the world about climate change and gave tangible ways for folks to engage in their own climate activism. Pattie’s work expanded from being an entertaining, informative, and LGBTQIA+ positive internet platform to a nonprofit that teaches allyship in outdoor spaces, a touring drag show, and a business that has employed more than 600 people.
Robert Alexander/Getty Images
Patagonia claims that they are not against art, creative expression, or commentary on the brand, but that in order to maintain their own rights, they have to be proactive about preventing others from copying their brand and logo. “To put a finer point on it, we cannot selectively choose to enforce our rights based on whether we agree with a particular point of view. Inconsistent enforcement might prevent us from stopping entities like the oil and gas lobby, counterfeiters, hate groups, or other bad actors from using the Patagonia name and logo,” says the brand’s statement.
Pattie Gonia stated in their video that they’ve spent the last four months pursuing every avenue to deal with the suit amicably and keep it out of court, but that the corporation had left them with no choice. Ultimately, Pattie Gonia’s statements on social media support a letter to the brand’s CEO, board of directors, and Purpose Trust trustees, asking them to drop the lawsuit, make peace, and return to their shared goal of saving the planet.
According to the lawsuit, a scheduling conference between Wiley and Patagonia, Inc. is currently set for June 8, 2026.
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