Hiking in Heels: A Chat with Denver Pride Headliner Pattie Gonia

Pattie Gonia, Mother Nature’s favorite drag queen, will be one of the headliners at this year’s Denver Pride. 

Pattie Gonia (they/she/he) is a critically acclaimed drag queen, artist, and environmentalist. Their goal is to diversify the outdoor and environmental movements and inspire the queer population to go outside. She has been named Outside Magazine’s Person of the Year, National Geographic Traveler of the Year, and Next Gen Leader for 2023 by TIME Magazine.

With their community and supporters, Pattie Gonia has raised over $2 million for LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and environmental nonprofits, completed thousands of miles of hiking, and raised awareness of the ongoing environmental crisis with multiple film projects. It’s safe to say that we are so excited to have Pattie Gonia with us for this year’s Denver Pride, so we had a quick conversation with her about her set, her Pride plans, and her music. 

What can we expect from your set (without spoiling too much)? 

Very gay things, a lot of sweat, and to learn about sustainability and just how gay nature is.

Why is Pride important to you?

Pride is important to me because love and being proud of who you are can change the world, and because everyone deserves the right to get sunburned and dehydrated around thousands of other queer people. 

What do you hope people walk away with after witnessing your set?

Celebrating themselves, celebrating sustainability, and celebrating nature.

What advice would you give any young queer people struggling this Pride?

You are stronger than you know, and me and Mother Nature love you. 

What are your personal plans for this Pride?

To spend as much time outside with my queers as possible! 

You just released a song last month! What was the process of creating that like? What future plans do you have music-wise?

The song was about my deconstruction of a faith that almost killed me and my reconstruction of faith around nature and queerness. The process of creating the song was to spend a lot of time outside reflecting on my life and how far I’ve come to get to a place of self. There are a lot of plans in the works with my music. I am full sending music. 

How did you get into drag?

I hiked a section of the Continental Divide Trail in high heels, and the rest is history (of ankle pain and a community of more than a million queers getting outdoors).

What are your thoughts on the importance of drag, Pride, and celebration in this time of more and more anti-LGBTQ+ laws/policies?

Pride is more important than ever. Let’s make Denver Pride the most inclusive, sustainable, and queer Pride yet.