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| Figure 1: Winners of the Washington, D.C. Bear Pageant in 2006 (Source: Google Images) |
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex (LGBTQI) communities are made up of a diverse array of individuals who vary in various ways. While there are definitely some stereotypes and dominant archetypes of who belongs within these communities the reality is that they included people of varying interests, sexual desires, personal tastes, and racial and/or ethnic make-up. This leads to various subcultural groups or communities within the larger LGBTQI identity groups, and today’s blog post is dedicated to discussing one such group: Bears.
The term Bear refers to larger (overweight to obese), hairy (in body and face), gay, bisexual, or queer men (Figure 1). It is believed that the Bear identity emerged from the dominant “Leather Gay” communities that existed at that time, which refers to sculpted gay men who wore leather outfits, and it was a deviation from the dominant beauty standard at that time, which remains the dominant beauty standard within the LGBTQI and heterosexual realms. The term originated in the late 1960s, first being recorded in the literature of the Satyrs, a gay motorcycle club, although more frequent occurrences can be found throughout literature written in the 1970s and 1980s. While the Bear identity originated in the United States this identity is frequently found in LGBTQI communities throughout Central and South America, Europe, and Australia, and it is quickly spreading throughout Asia and Africa.
Any gay, bisexual, or queer man can be a Bear. It is largely a self-ascribed label. Despite this the majority of individuals who identify as being a Bear are White, although, again, any man can be a bear regardless of race or ethnicity. Being a larger size is a key aspect of the Bear identity, although what is defined as large provides some latitude in self identity. There are heavily muscularized men who identify as being Bears, although some members of this identity group shy away from characterizing them as part of it. Bears are also characterized by wearing working class, blue collar clothing, and they are often seen as being far more affectionate both privately and in public among partners and friends.
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| Figure 2: Common Terms Used in the Bear Community (Source: Quidley-Rodriguez & De Santis, 2017) |
There is also a focal language associated with the Bear
group. To be classified as a Bear one
must fit the aforementioned criteria, but they are also classified by age. A cub is a younger bear, whereas a Bear is an
older male. Bears can also be divided by
race, with Panda Bears referring to Asian Bears and Brown Bears referring to
Hispanic/Latino Bears. Individuals who
are not identified as Bears but have a sexual preference toward Bears are known
as Bear Chasers. Additional terms
related to the focal language of Bears can be found in Figure 2.
The Bear identity within the larger LGBTQI community is one that is considered unique but also mainstream. Their uniqueness comes from how their identity is in direct opposition to the dominant beauty ideals/stereotypical views of gay, bisexual, and queer men. This is in part why there are specific spaces reserved for Bears, such as Bear bars and clubs and Bear themed events, such as the Bear Expo and Sitges Bear Week. With greater values concerning body positivity of all body types the Bear identity is becoming mainstream and accepted. There are publications dedicated to the Bear identity, as well as an artistic movement dedicated to showcasing and celebrating these diverse body types. Ultimately, Bears demonstrate the complex cultural values and identities within the LGBTQI communities.
References
Beattie, Scott. "Bear arts naked: Queer activism and the fat male body." Queering fat embodiment. Routledge, 2016. 131-146.
McGlynn, Nick. "Bears in space: Geographies of a global community of big and hairy gay/bi/queer men." Geography Compass 15.2 (2021): e12553.
Narciso Quidley-Rodriguez & Joseph P De Santis (2017): A Concept Analysis
of Bear Identity, Journal of Homosexuality, DOI: 10.1080/00918369.2017.1392131
Quidley-Rodriguez, Narciso, and Joseph P. De Santis. "A literature review of health risks in the bear community, a gay subculture." American journal of men's health 11.6 (2017): 1673-1679.
