Pattie Gonia

I've also bungee dumped in full drag.

The thing that makes me feel the most scared or the most unsafe was actually being in drag in Washington, D.C., in the halls of Congress, walking next to these senators and congresspeople who, if they had their way, would have me definitely not be a part of this country.

If they had their way, wouldn't see me as human.

I mean, they don't see me as human.

And I think a lot of people would sit here and be like, oh, I wasn't afraid.

But I was really afraid because these are people that affect people that I love.

I think a lot of us are afraid right now.

But I think what I'm reminded about time and time again, we have got us.

We are the solution.

The community and how everyone can give something to fight and change and reshape the world.

That is the solution that we need and is right in front of us.

What the queer movement has taught me that I think is so important to remember in this moment is that they would fight in the morning, they would mourn in the afternoon, and they would dance in the evening.

And all three of those things, fighting, mourning, dancing, were all so equally important.

to waking up the next day and fighting again and then mourning again and then dancing again.

And I really think it's that dancing, it's that joy that kept them going through.

And I think a lot of people look at what I do with drag as an activist and see me as a joke.

And I'm like, thank you so much.

That's the highest compliment you could ever give me because the joy that I can give people and that then they can give each other

is the strategic way through.

Joy is a strategy.