Bear community

The bear community is a subculture in the gay community. Bears are gay men with stocky or heavyset builds, and usually have hairy bodies and facial hair. Bears often exhibit an outwardly masculine appearance. Some bears place great importance on presenting a hyper-masculine image and shun interaction with men who display effeminate style and mannerisms. Bears are typically contrasted with twinks.

Pride 2004.
There is much debate as to the definition of a bear, with some saying that anyone who self-identifies as a bear is a bear, and others arguing that bears must have certain physical characteristics, such as a stocky build, hairy chest, and facial hair.

Origins and behaviour

The bear community originated in Germany in the 1980s as an outgrowth of the leather and girth and mirth communities. It was created by men who felt that mainstream gay culture was unwelcoming to men who did not fit a particular bodily norm (thin, hairless and young). In turn, some people both in and out of the bear community criticize it as tending to exclude people who do not fit into their own standards of what a "real man" is.

Some bears dissociate themselves from the gay community at large; bears often having their own bars, and there are many social events geared towards bears where they can socialize with other members of the bear community. Some of these events, often referred to as "bear runs," may have beauty pageants where titles and sashes (made of leather) are given out to winners. (Example: "Mr. Washington, D.C Bear, 2002.")

The bear community has spread all over the world, with bear clubs in Australia, South America, North America, and Europe. Bear events are common in those areas and lots of flux and interaction occur between members of the different communities.

Often when a bear spots another bear in public and wants to express physical attraction, he makes a growling noise ("Grrrr!") or says "Woof!"

References in pop culture

Though not generally widely known outside of the gay community, the "bear" label has begun to surface in pop culture.