The duality and flexibility of Pattie’s looks is part of Wiley finding himself and Pattie’s self—“I’m really putting myself out there online as a person who’s just trying to figure it out” he says. But it’s also part of his larger message of inclusion and acceptance.
Pattie Gonia is a new way forward, and people are taking notice. “This thing has now formed into a beautiful community of people that are super freaking woke,” Wiley says with a laugh. “I just got a DM this morning from a 14-year-old trans kid, who wrote, ‘Thank you so much, I’m from Mississippi. I love following your account and seeing that everything we all do is all drag, no matter what it is.
“I have big dreams for what this community can be and where we can go to be representative of every single person in the outdoor industry, of everyone in our world, and our society, I’m fully aware that Pattie will be the littlest chip on that block, but if it can be a chip, I’m there for that,” Wiley adds. “I think that if Pattie can just say, ‘Hey queers, you are welcome in the outdoors, and not only are you welcome but you’ll find out a lot about yourself in the outdoors.