Environmentalist drag queen Pattie Gonia has publicly urged outdoor clothing brand Patagonia to withdraw a trademark infringement lawsuit filed against the influencer. Wyn Wiley, the creator of the Pattie Gonia persona, released a video on social media Wednesday stating, "This is not a brand conflict. This is a corporation trying to erase an activist, and this is how corporations bully individuals who cannot match their resources, because this would take away not only my activism and my career, but also the livelihoods of the team I employ."
Lawsuit Details
In January, Patagonia filed a federal lawsuit alleging that branding associated with Pattie Gonia is "likely to cause confusion, mistake, or deception" among consumers. Wiley, known for promoting environmental causes while wearing full glam makeup and hair in outdoor settings, said he spent four months attempting to resolve the matter privately. After failing to reach an agreement, he decided to speak out.
Wiley emphasized in his Instagram video, "I have never used [Patagonia's] logo, font, or anything from their brand on our merch website." He also noted that the Pattie Gonia persona was "named after a region in South America called Patagonia, a name that predates both me and the clothing brand by 500 years."
Patagonia's Position
A Patagonia spokesperson told The Independent that the company has "a responsibility to protect the company that generations of employees have helped build." The lawsuit was filed after Wiley applied for a trademark for the drag persona. Patagonia claims the application "reflects Pattie Gonia's departure from discrete use of a persona to engage in activism and confirms Defendants' intent instead to launch a wide-ranging commercial enterprise under the PATTIE GONIA brand."
While Patagonia is seeking only $1 in nominal monetary damages, Wiley argues the real stakes are much higher. "What they're actually trying to do is to take away my name permanently and threaten me with more than $1 million in legal fees," he said. The Patagonia spokesperson insisted the lawsuit "is not about seeking financial gain, nor is it about challenging anyone's identity or right to advocacy, protest, or creative expression. The last thing we wanted was a legal fight with someone who shares our values, but we must protect our business and employees."
Public Appeal
Wiley, who has 3 million social media followers and has raised $3.7 million for environmental and social justice nonprofits, urged his supporters to "join me in telling Patagonia, 'drop the lawsuit,' make your voice heard everywhere Patagonia is, and let me be very clear, do so in a classy, respectful, and peaceful way."
In an open letter to Patagonia posted on Instagram, Wiley wrote, "I have believed from the beginning that there is room for an agreement that protects your trademark while letting me keep my name and my work. I believe that still today. Let's make peace and get back to our common love of the planet including our namesake region in South America named Patagonia."
Patagonia stated it had tried to reach an agreement over the past several years "that would allow Pattie Gonia to continue their work while also protecting the Patagonia trademark. These conversations have included multiple proposals—each intended to support that path—along with ongoing dialogue and genuine efforts to avoid this ending up in court. Unfortunately, we could not reach an agreement."
