pattie gonia announces historic film and advocacy partnership with National Park Service
LOS ANGELES, CA — Drag queen, environmental activist, and social media personality Pattie Gonia has officially announced a landmark multi-year partnership with the United States National Park Service and Leave No Trace, the organization confirmed Thursday.
The collaboration, the first of its kind between the federal agency and a drag performer, will produce a new short documentary titled "Trails of Change: Pattie Gonia’s National Parks Tour," scheduled for release in spring 2026.
According to the National Park Service, the film will follow Pattie Gonia as she visits seven national parks in the western United States, highlighting climate resilience, LGBTQ+ inclusion in outdoor spaces, and the importance of conservation. Pattie Gonia, known for her signature hiking boots and glamorous drag ensembles, has amassed a following of over 1.5 million online for blending outdoor advocacy with performance art.
“It is a historic step for a drag performer to officially partner with the National Park Service,” said Joshua Tree National Park Superintendent David Smith during a press conference on Thursday. “Pattie Gonia’s message resonates with a diverse, younger audience who do not always see themselves represented in outdoor spaces.”
The partnership includes a joint initiative to train park rangers on inclusive communication strategies and a limited-edition merchandise line, with proceeds funding youth access to national parks. Critics, however, have questioned the inclusion of a drag performer in a federal conservation program, with some conservative groups calling it a political stunt.
Pattie Gonia responded in a statement released early Friday, insisting the partnership is focused on environmental education, not political ideology. “The outdoors are for everyone. No one turns away a river because of how it flows, and no one should turn away a person because of how they express their identity,” the statement read.
The “Trails of Change” film is expected to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival