PATTIE GONIA SAVE HER // PORTLAND, OR
A few film snaps above from my time spent with Pattie Gonia and the Save Her Tour crew on their stop at Revolution Hall in Portland, OR. I am so proud and honored to have played a very tiny part in documenting such a big movement. I just saw two headlines come across my feed “Pattie Gonia becomes the first drag queen to reach 1 million without Drag Race or a major record label.” & “This cast raised $40k in one night bringing the total you’ve raised to $2.7M for grassroots queer & climate orgs.” Legendary behavior.
Follow along with Pattie HERE.
What part of the tour tugged at your heart strings the most?
I love looking into the audience during numbers and seeing people having genuine fun. I love that the environment is completely safe, so that anyone and everyone can feel 100% themselves and be free to dance, laugh, and sing -free from the daily negativity we all go through in this world. It’s truly a beautiful escape from it all, while making a difference and positive change for what we all believe in.
What do you hope to see within your lifetime?
I hope to see a more gentle world where science and education is valued over war and violence. Where queer people and other marginalized groups can be accepted completely, and we take care of each other and this planet while leading with kindness, instead of fear and anger. I am optimistic that even though it’s hard to imagine now, it’s on the horizon as long as we keep fighting for what is right.
To every queer person out there losing hope I want you to know that…
You are not alone. If you are feeling overwhelmed, or helpless reach out to local organizations and movements. There are thousands of groups and safe spaces that would love to have you, especially in these difficult times. Get outdoors, connect with nature, and find your chosen family. You are beautiful as you are- and I truly believe through our actions of activism and kindness -big or small- things WILL get better. - JACOB
“I HOPE TO SEE QUEER AND TRANS LIBERATION ON A SAVED PLANET WITHIN MY LIFETIME.” - VERA
“Drag for me truly feels like every corner of the dreams I’ve had when it comes to creating. 10 year old me would be proud.” - NINE
How has being involved in the Save Her tour impacted your life?
It has impacted my life on every level! It has given me an incredible platform to uplift my climate activism, and also drag kings! It has given me a beautiful climate justice drag family, and real deep friendships. It has allowed me to see so many cities in drag and so many audiences that I never would’ve had the deep joy of meeting, and has provided me with a network of new activist friends across the nation as well. I have also been able to see the direct impact of creating space for people involved in the work to meet each other and then support each others’ climate justice efforts, even on the policy level.
What would you tell your 10 year old self about where you’re at in 2025?
I would tell my 10 year old self to get ready for a delicious wild ride of performance art for good causes and also for a nonprofit career fundraising for good causes.
What part of the tour tugged at your heart strings the most?
Oh my god, everything! Whether it’s people standing up and crying as we all pledge to keep fighting for our earth and communities or people coming up to me saying they never felt so seen before, I’m so moved every time! - VERA
How has being involved in the Save Her tour impacted your life?
To be involved in the Save Her Tour was one of the most mind boggling, surreal, and incredible experiences I’ve ever had in my life. I’ve been creating for as long as I can remember. To get to the place I was at that night, and to be apart of a sold out show at Revolution Hall, was truly beyond. I’ve been doing drag for a little over a year now and to be surrounded by such incredible creatives that want to make a difference was so profound and special to me. I’m so beyond grateful I got to be apart of this show!
What would you tell your 10 year old self about where you’re at in 2025?
If I were to tell my 10 year old self about where I’m at in 2025 I think they would both be shocked but not fully surprised. I always knew I wanted to make an impact in an artistic way and on a stage of some kind. In fact, I wanted to do so much growing up that it was hard for me to think of a future where I could do it all. Drag for me truly feels like every corner of the dreams I’ve had when it comes to creating. Fashion, performance, theatrics, music, dance, hair, makeup, community, and FUN! I think 10 year old me would be proud of the Nine that’s emerged now. - NINE
“I HAVE FOUND CHOSEN FAMILY, BUILT CONNECTIONS I NEVER WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE, AND THE PURE JOY I GET FROM BEING PART OF SOMETHING THAT IS TRULY MAKING DIFFERENCES -BIG AND SMALL- HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE BLESSING TO MY LIFE.” - JACOB
