In January, Patagonia, an outdoor clothing brand launched a trademark lawsuit against Pattie Gonia, a self-described drag queen and climate activist, for $1 plus attorneys’ fees over alleged trademark issues.
Pattie, whose offstage name is Wyn Wiley, in a May 27 Instagram post said the company is “trying to erase an activist.”
“Patagonia is taking me to court because they claim I’m causing ‘irreparable’ harm to their brand,” Pattie Gonia said in a statement posted to Instagram. “In the end, I had two choices: 1. the erasure of my name, my advocacy, my community, and everyone I employ or 2. fight for myself and fight for us.”
The clothing brand, in a statement posted to Facebook and Instagram early Monday, June 1, said it filed the suit in January to protect its trademark, and the company wants Pattie Gonia to withdraw all trademark applications, stop using its logos and stop selling and promoting apparel and other products as Pattie Gonia.
“We wish this lawsuit had not been necessary, and we want to acknowledge any hurt it has caused, especially in the LGBTQ+ community. We don’t want to argue trademark law on social media. Importantly, we continue to want to resolve this,” the company said in an Instagram post.
The back-and-forth between the company and the performer comes as the country begins Pride Month, which celebrates the LGBTQ+ community.
The company’s suit claims Pattie Gonia is appropriating the Patagonia brand after the performer filed a trademark application for the name “Pattie Gonia” in September 2025. The company said in the suit Pattie Gonia had previously agreed not to use its logo and made other concessions.
The performer has since denied the allegations.
Patagonia says it shares similar values with the performer, including saving the environment and creating a more inclusive outdoors.
Pattie Gonia’s trademark application, if approved, would allow the performer to use the name “Pattie Gonia” for branded products and other purposes.
In addition to being a drag performer, Pattie Gonia has raised more than $3 million for environmental nonprofits, they say on their Instagram.
Michigan has no Patagonia locations, according to the company’s website, but merchandise is available at more than 20 authorized dealers in the state.
USA Today contributed reporting.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Patagonia sues drag queen Pattie Gonia over trademark. What’s happening
Reporting by Jalen Williams, USA TODAY NETWORK / Detroit Free Press
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