PORTLAND, Ore. — Drag queen and climate activist Pattie Gonia is firing back at outdoor apparel giant Patagonia, accusing the company of weaponizing a trademark dispute amid a surge in anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and environmental rollbacks. In a viral Instagram video Wednesday, Gonia—also known as Wyn Wiley—called on the Ventura-based corporation to drop the federal lawsuit filed earlier this month.
Patagonia, founded in 1973, alleges that Gonia's trademark application for her drag name directly competes with its own branded products and services, creating customer confusion. The company is seeking just $1 in damages, but Gonia warns the legal battle could cost her over $1 million in fees and potentially force her to abandon her drag persona entirely.
Political Climate Under Fire
“Isn’t it interesting that the multi-billion-dollar corporation Patagonia chose this exact moment, the height of anti-LGBTQ+ politics and attacks on the environment to sue me?” Gonia said in her statement. “They’ve known about me for eight years and the impact of this timing right now is serious and it’s real. I think they looked at the political moment and thought they could pull this off without much pushback.”
The lawsuit arrives as conservative state legislatures push dozens of bills targeting drag performances and transgender rights, and as the Trump administration continues to dismantle environmental protections. Gonia, a Bend-based activist known for blending drag with outdoor advocacy, argues the company is capitalizing on a hostile climate for marginalized communities.
Prior Agreements Disputed
Patagonia officials say they attempted to reach a mutual resolution for years before resorting to litigation. Attorneys for the company point to a 2022 agreement in which Gonia committed not to use fonts or designs resembling Patagonia’s in a partnership with Hydroflask. But Gonia contends that deal applied only to that specific collaboration, not to her overall brand identity.
She also notes that the Patagonia region in South America predates both her and the corporation by centuries, questioning the company’s exclusive claim to the name.
Company Defends Trademark
A Patagonia spokesperson defended the lawsuit, stating: “Patagonia has a responsibility to protect the company that generations of employees have helped build. Not because a name matters more than people, but because that name carries trust, purpose, and decades of work connected to environmental activism, product, storytelling and community impact. Protecting the Patagonia trademark is part of protecting the ability of this company to continue doing that work in the future.”
The company insists it is not seeking financial gain from the suit. Gonia, however, remains skeptical and urged her followers not to harass Patagonia employees. She framed her video as “just part one” of the unfolding story.
This legal clash comes amid broader debates over trademark rights and cultural appropriation in the outdoor industry. Meanwhile, other political battles are heating up, including House GOP defense legislation that would restrict presidential troop movements and the Texas attorney general runoff where the successor to Ken Paxton faces a tight race.
