What is a Bear?
-
A bear is often a larger, hairier man who projects an image of rugged masculinity. Bears are one of many LGBTQ communities with events, codes, and a culture-specific identity.
-
Bears celebrate secondary sexual characteristics of the male: facial hair, body hair, proportional size, and baldness.
-
People who identify as men in the gay/queer community who have hairy bodies and facial hair. Tend to have more body and facial hair, body hair, of bigger stature/size, higher percentage of body fat, baldness, and emphasis on masculine secondary sexual characteristics. Many are stocky and/or muscular (generally larger in mass than any other classification of gay men in the community). They often portray themselves as the epitome of masculinity through their rugged appearance and demeanor. Typically, Bears are friendly, polite, and easy-going, a far cry from their animal counterpart.
Characteristics
Some bears place importance on presenting a clear masculine image and may show disliking towards men who exhibit effeminacy.[3] The bear concept can function as an identity, an affiliation, and there is ongoing debate in bear communities about what constitutes a bear.
-
At the onset of the bear movement, some bears separated from the gay community at large, forming "bear clubs" to create social and sexual opportunities for their own. Many clubs are loosely organized social groups; others are modeled on leather biker-patch clubs, with a strict set of bylaws, membership requirements, and charities.
-
Bears usually identify as gay or bisexual men. However, as LGBTQIA culture and modern slang has taken on a wider appeal in modern society, it is possible to call a hairy and burly straight man a bear (although they would not be strictly part of the gay bear community).[4] Increasingly, transgender men (trans men) and those who shun labels for gender and sexuality are also included within bear communities.[5] However, heterosexual men who have bearish physical traits and are affirming of their gay friends and family (or their gay fans, in the case of a celebrity) may also be informally accorded "honorary" bear status.
[1] Ron Jackson Suresha, (2002). Bears on Bears: Interviews and Discussions. "Bear Ages and Stages", pages 54–58, 149, 179, 236, 260–262, 294. Los Angeles: Alyson Publications. Print.
[2] Erbentraut, Joe. "Move Over, Metrosexuals: Meet the Straight Bears." Village Voice. N.p., 22 June 2010. Web.
[3] Ron Suresha, Bears on Bears: Interviews and Discussions. Lethe Press, 2009.
Flags: http://savvyred.deviantart.com/journal/Pride-Flags-Colors-explained-379547414
