Despite the backlash over the Bud Light partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney, companies continue to push the envelope for Pride Month, now just days away from "officially" beginning. Target held an emergency meeting recently over the backlash over some of its pride merchandise that included "tuck friendly" swimsuits, controversial items geared toward kids, and a product line designed by a Satanist. The company has since ordered certain southern stores to scale back their pride displays and move them, as well as pulling all items from the Devil-worshipper. But now the Target and Bud Light controversies are looking like small potatoes compared to what North Face has done.
The company kicked off its "Summer of Pride" with an ad posted on Instagram that looks like it came from the pages of The Babylon Bee, as many on social media questioned whether it was real.
"Hi, it's me Patti Gonia – a real-life homosexual. Today, I'm here with the North Face and we are here to invite you to come out... in nature with us!" the drag queen says at the beginning of the video.
The drag queen is donning an outfit to promote the company's "Outside Together" collection of rainbow-colored shirts, hats, shorts, and more in adult and youth sizes.
North Face is pushing this for 2-7 year olds pic.twitter.com/jhKbdRyAAT
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) May 24, 2023
In the video, "Gonia" invites North Face fans to "gay sashay across the nation" with events in Oregon, Colorado, Ohio, California, Georgia, and Utah.
"This tour has everything: hiking, community, art, lesbians, lesbians making art," the drag queen says.
North Face really told Bud Light, “Hold my beer.” pic.twitter.com/oGSslpPP6k
— Kevin Sorbo (@ksorbs) May 25, 2023
Despite a number of angry comments and calls to boycott North Face, the company defended the promo video and tour.
"We recognize the opportunity our brand has to shape the future of the outdoors and we want that future to be a more accepting and loving place," North Face said. "We're partnering with Pattie because we believe the outdoors are for everyone."
"The North Face online community is designed to be a safe, positive and inclusive environment. It's why we have a zero-tolerance policy against racist, discriminatory, threatening, abusive, harmful, vulgar or attacking social media comments, which will be removed immediately," the message added.