Wyn Wiley (he/him), aka “Pattie Gonia” (she/her), the outspoken LGBTQ+ outdoors and environmental advocate with more than 219,000 followers on the @pattiegonia Instagram page and whose recent Everything to Lose video produced with REI has garnered nearly 1.5 million views on YouTube, will headline the “Inclusivity in Sport” panel discussion at the third annual Winter PrideFest, January 30 to February 2 in Bend.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled to accept OUT Central Oregon’s invitation to join them in one of the country’s top destinations for outdoor recreation, and to share my passion for Mother Nature, the outdoors and the environment with Winter PrideFest attendees and the broader Bend community,” said Wyn. “Winter PrideFest is more than just a celebration of winter sports among the LGBTQ+ community, it’s an opportunity for all of us to learn, grow and share our experiences with others. Being outdoors, and being in a destination like Bend, provides a perfect platform to do just that.”
In addition to headlining the “Inclusivity in Sport” panel discussion with other notable LGBTQ+ athletes and coaches, Wyn/Pattie will also attend other scheduled social events and recreational activities as part of Winter PrideFest.
“As a well-respected and widely recognized backcountry queen, outdoors advocate and social activist, Wyn/Pattie brings an additional level of credibility to what we are trying to achieve with Winter PrideFest,” said Jamie Nesbitt, president of OUT Central Oregon, which organizes the annual event. “Winter PrideFest was conceived as a way to bring the LGBTQ+ community and allies together over a shared passion for outdoor recreation and winter sports in a way that is inclusive, social, educational and above all, fun, and Wyn/Pattie represents all of these things and more.”
Taking place at Mt. Bachelor, Winter PrideFest will feature Alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing, plus the popular Drag Tubing. In town, attendees can take part in a Welcome “Snocial” at Immersion Brewing, Wigs Ice Skating at Seventh Mountain Resort, a panel discussion on LGBTQ+ people in sport, a downtown Apres Ski Party at Crater Lake Spirits, Dance Party at Spoken Moto and a Sunday brunch. A complete schedule of events is available at outcentraloregon.com/winter-pridefest.
Most Winter PrideFest events are free to attend, though space is limited for certain events and activities, and advance registration is encouraged. For more information or to register for Winter PrideFest, visit outcentraloregon.com/winter-pridefest/ or the Winter PrideFest Facebook Event page.
