Bear (gay Culture)

Bear (gay Culture)

"Bear" is an LGBT slang term for men that are commonly, but not always, overweight and often having hairy bodies and facial hair. Some are also muscular and some project an image of rugged masculinity in their grooming and appearance. It is a subculture in the gay and bisexual male communities and to an emerging subset of LGBT communities with events, codes, and a culture-specific identity.

Some say the term "bear" originated with Richard Bulger, who, along with his then partner Chris Nelson (1960–2006) founded Bear Magazine in 1987. However, there is some contention that the term "bear", along with many of the conventions of the subculture, predate Bulger's creation of Bear Magazine. They argue that "bear" was the product of many individuals working together as well as independently over time. Indeed, George Mazzei wrote an article for The Advocate in 1979 called "Who's Who in the Zoo?", that characterized homosexuals as seven types of animals, including bears.

Some bears place importance on presenting a hypermasculine image and may shun interaction with, and even disdain, men who exhibit effeminacy. The bear concept can function as an identity, an affiliation, and there is ongoing debate in bear communities about what constitutes a bear, however a consensus exists that inclusion is an important part of the bear community.

Bears are almost always gay or bisexual men. Increasingly, transgender or transsexual men (trans men) and those who shun labels for gender and sexuality are also included within bear communities. 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.

Younger or smaller men who identify with bear culture may also be labelled as cubs.

"Overweight" or "obese" men are labelled as "chubs". The border line between bears and chubs is very thin and fluctuating.