Pattie Gonia: How We Can Learn from Nature to Be Better Advocates for Our Planet
Jan 28, 2024
Larson Hall at American Swedish Institute
Part of the Climate Solutions Series
Tickets: Free
Critically acclaimed drag queen, environmentalist, and Outdoorist Oath co-founder Pattie Gonia will share how we can advocate for inclusivity and diversity and highlight ways in which we can learn from nature to be an ally to our planet and the environmental justice movement. This discussion, moderated by Change Narrative’s Jothsna Harris, will showcase Pattie’s art form of drag, activism work, and offer an incredible opportunity to be inspired, educated and entertained.
About the Panelists
Pattie Gonia (she/they) is a critically acclaimed drag queen, environmentalist, and advocate for inclusivity and diversity in the outdoors. Pattie is well known for their outdoor feats like climbing, skiing, surfing, and hiking all in drag. Pattie Gonia founded the Pattie Gonia Community which exists to uplift LGBTQIA+ people and allies in the outdoors through events, Pride festivals and outdoor programming. She’s also the co-founder of the Outdoorist Oath—a non-profit that works for intersectional action for planet, inclusion and adventure. Recently, Pattie founded the Queer Outdoor and Environmental Job Board—a free tool queer individuals can use to get hired and therefore diversify the fields.
Together with her community, they’ve fundraised over .5 million dollars for LGBTQIA+, BIPOC and environmental nonprofits, completed thousands of miles of hiking and backpacking, and raised awareness about the ongoing environmental crisis through their film projects like Birds Tell Us and Everything to Lose. Pattie’s drag itself is a personal journey of self identity, sustainability, and queering traditional masculine outdoor narratives to explore the natural world.
Jothsna Harris (moderator) is the founder of Change Narrative, which exists to build capacity in the climate justice movement through the power of our stories. Through a coaching practice, Jothsna works with front-line activists, legislators, artists, organizations, and community groups to craft climate narratives to advocate for solutions. Specifically centering voices excluded from mainstream media, climate discussions, and decision-making. Jothsna led the creative process and co-edited the 2020 book, Eyewitness: Minnesota Voices on Climate Change, is the Producer of the 2022 MN Fringe Festival ‘Venue Pick’ show Changing the Narrative: Climate Stories for Justice, and the recipient of the 2023 Creative Climate Communications Award from the Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership. Jothsna was recently selected as an 2023 Obama USA Leader, as part of a cohort of 100 changemakers across the Nation working to strengthen democracy. Jothsna currently serves on The Great Northern Festival Board of Directors.
The Climate Solutions Series is made possible through the generous support of The McKnight Foundation.