The International Bear Brotherhood Flag designed in 1995 by Craig Byrnes (VA Copyright 760-763), digital graphic by Paul Witzkoske for Bear Manufacturing ^[1]

Bear is LGBT slang term for those in the bear communities, a subculture in the gay/bisexual male communities and an emerging subset of LGBT communities with events, codes and culture specific identity. In the English language, gay is an Adjective that in modern usage refers to Homosexuality. Bisexuality refers to sexual behavior with or attraction to people of both sexes or to a bisexual orientation LGBT (also GLBT) is an initialism referring collectively to Lesbian, Gay, bisexual, and Transgender / transsexual It also describes a physical type.

Bears tend to have hairy bodies and facial hair; some are heavy-set; some project an image of working-class masculinity in their grooming and appearance, though none of these are requirements or unique indicators. Facial hair is a Secondary sex characteristic in human Males Many Men start developing facial hair in the later years of Puberty, approximately Overweight is generally defined as having more body fat (adipose tissue than is optimally Healthy Being overweight is a common condition especially where Some bears place importance on presenting a hyper-masculine image; some may shun interaction with men who display effeminate style and mannerisms, although some actually exhibit these traits themselves. Shunning is the act of deliberately avoiding association with and habitually keeping away from an individual or group Effeminacy is a trait in males that generally contradicts traditional male ( masculine) Gender roles It is a derogatory term frequently applied to Femininity Mannerism is a period of European art which emerged from the later years of the Italian High Renaissance around 1520. The bear concept can function as an identity, an affiliation, and an ideal to live up to, and there is ongoing debate in bear communities about what constitutes a bear. There is also, anecdotally, more acceptance of tattoos and body piercing in the bear community, although this acceptance varies from member to member.

Some state that self-identifying as a bear is the only requirement, while others argue that bears must have certain physical characteristics--such as a hairy chest and face or having a large body--and a certain mode of dress and behavior. However, the concept clearly has certain boundaries of plausible self-identification, and an individual identifying as a bear with none of the usual bear attributes would not be accepted as such by others in the gay community or re-labeled as a bear-chaser or another subset like cub or otter (see terminology section below).

"Bears" are almost always gay or bisexual men although increasingly transgender men and those who shun labels for gender and sexuality are also included within bear communities. In the English language, gay is an Adjective that in modern usage refers to Homosexuality. Bisexuality refers to sexual behavior with or attraction to people of both sexes or to a bisexual orientation Transgender (trænzˈdʒɛndɚ from ( Latin) derivatives Gender comprises a range of differences between men and women extending from the biological to the social Sexual orientation is believed to refer to "an enduring pattern of emotional romantic and/or sexual attractions to men women or both sexes

Origins

Bears marching in San Francisco Pride 2004. The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city LGBT pride or gay pride refers to a world wide movement and philosophy asserting that LGBT ( Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and

The link between the gay Bear and the animal of the same name is a metaphorical one. The features of the bear which are picked up on by the gay Bear concept are the animal's hairiness, its solid proportions, and also its perceived masculine power. The bear is both fat and powerful, and the reconciliation of these two qualities is at the heart of the Bear concept's appeal. It is also no coincidence that Bears are typically very similar in appearance to the ideal of the North American lumberjack. Lumberjacks often encounter bears and the two have always been associated with each other. A romantic conflation of the bear and the lumberjack image provides the Bear trope its metaphorical appeal. Lumberjacks were romaticised and fetishised in gay culture long before the arrival of the Bear concept, and the Bear concept retains strong traces of this older ideal. Lumberjacks appealed to gay men at aesthetic levels but also for reason of their homosociality, the fact that they were working class, and for the fact that their isolation from urban society (and hence from mainstream gay culture) opened up a fantasy of both secrecy and liberation, within an idyllic, rural, North American setting. In Sociology, homosociality describes same-sex relationships that are not of a romantic and/or Sexual nature

The self-identification of gay men as Bears originated in San Francisco in the 1980s as an outgrowth of the gay biker and then later the leather and "girth and mirth" communities. The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city Leather is a material created through the Tanning of hides and Skins of Animals primarily Cattlehide The Tanning process The chubby community is a subculture in the Gay community Chubbies (or "chubs" are gay men who are Overweight or obese. It was created by men who felt that mainstream gay culture was unwelcoming to men who did not fit a particular "twink" body norm (hairless and young). Poliamory pride in San Francisco 2004jpg|thumb|Representatives of the Polyamory community at a San Francisco parade Twink or twinkie is a Gay Also, many gay men in rural America never identified with the stereotypical urban gay lifestyle, and went searching for an alternative which more closely resembled the idealised blue collar American male image.

Richard Bulger, publisher, and his partner, Chris Nelson (photographer), started Bear Magazine--originally a photocopied flyer--from their apartment in San Francisco in 1987. Richard Bulger creator of Bear Magazine was a pioneer in the publishing of erotic photography and stories for what grew into today's gay men's Bear community. Chris Nelson (1960-2006 photographer and co-founder of Bear Magazine in the 1980s was the photographic pioneer in the gay-oriented erotic photography of mature men with hairy Bear Magazine ( is one of the longest-established erotic periodicals specifically geared toward Gay men who are — or who admire — masculine men with body or facial Over a 5-year period, the magazine grew to an internationally distributed high-gloss format, but still intentionally kept the stark look of Chris's black and white photography. Their company, Brush Creek Media,^[2] obtained a trademark on the name "Bear" for a men's magazine in 1991. ^[3] Bearded, blue-collar, rural, and working-class men were idolized in the magazine.

Richard's friend Rick Redewill, who had founded San Francisco's "Lone Star Saloon" bought full-page ads in every issue of Bear; they soon found themselves with a huge success nationally, especially among rural gay Americans, who would travel to San Francisco just to find a unique "blue collar" gay bar, filled with a masculine-identified crowd who were radically different than the stereotypical gay bar image. Rick Redewill born Richard Byron Redewill in California on August 9 1952 was the founder of the " Lone Star Saloon" the gay bar which is credited as helping give birth to the

The Lone Star became "ground zero" for the incubation of the Bear Community between 1990 and 1993. Unlike other gay clubs where dance music was the norm, the Lone Star played rock music for the appreciation of a more masculine-identifying customer base.

Much of the Lone Star staff, including its owner Redewill, became victims of the AIDS devastation which swept San Francisco. The bar was taken over by new owners in 1993. Bear Magazine was sold to Bear-Dog Hoffman, who expanded the Brush Creek Media empire into several special-interest gay magazines and video series. Bulger retired to a home in the Sierra.

Though the Bear subculture germinated long before advent of the Internet, it can be closely tied to the growth of online social networking. The Internet is a global system of interconnected Computer networks Gay men who felt they were not welcome at their local gay meeting places (or who just wanted a quick hookup) found easy access to and acceptance from similar people online. Gay men were quick to pick up on the online Bear community, but Bears of all ages are part of it.

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. Bear clubs often sponsor large yearly events--"Bear runs" or "Bear gatherings" like the annual events such as IBR, Bear Pride, TBRU, BearBust, drawing regional, national and international visitors. And many events attract a significant bear following, such as Southern Decadence in New Orleans. A feature at many Bear events is a "Bear contest," a sort of masculine beauty pageant awarding titles and sashes (often made of leather) to winners. Leather is a material created through the Tanning of hides and Skins of Animals primarily Cattlehide The Tanning process One of the largest and most notable contests, International Mr. Bear, is held each February at the International Bear Rendezvous in San Francisco. It attracts contestants, often with local titles, from all over the world. The first International Mr. Bear was John Caldera in 1992. The contest includes Bear, Daddy, Cub, and Grizzly titles with the contestant who receives the highest score winning the bear title, regardless of what type he is. Example: "Mr. Washington, D.C. Bear, 2006. Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D ")

Mr. DC Bear Cub 2006 and Mr. DC Bear 2006.

Gay "leather-bears" have competed in leather contests, and "muscle-bears" are another subculture noted by their muscular, often very large muscle body mass.

The Bear community has spread all over the world, with Bear clubs in many countries. Bear clubs often serve as social and sexual networks for older, hairier, sometimes heavier gay and bisexual men, and members often contribute to their local gay communities through fundraising and other functions. Bear events are common in heavily-gay communities.

The gay Bear community constitutes a specialty niche in the commercial market. It offers T-shirts and other accessories as well as calendars and porn movies featuring Bear icons, e. A T-shirt (or tee shirt) is a Shirt which is pulled on over the head to cover most of a person's Torso. The word Calendar consist of two words 1 Cal ( in Pashto means Year in Hindi and Persian is Sal- also means Year Pornographic films are Motion pictures with the purpose of promoting sexual arousal in the viewer often featuring depictions of sexual activity g. , Jack Radcliffe. Jack Radcliffe is the pseudonym for an American Gay Pornographic film performer and model Catalina Video has a bear-themed line: the "Furry Features Series. Catalina Video is an award-winning production house of Gay Pornography, founded in 1978 by William Higgins. " Other adult studios who feature Bear-type men are BearFilms, Butch Bear, Raging Stallion, and Titan Media.

As more gay men have identified themselves as Bears, more bars, especially leather or western bars, have become Bear-friendly. A bar (also called a Pub or Tavern) is a business that serves drinks especially Alcoholic beverages such as beer liquor and mixed drinks for consumption Some bars cater specifically to Bear patrons. As Bears have become more common in the larger gay culture, and as more gay and bisexual men identify themselves as Bears, Bears have not segregated themselves as much as they once did. Gay Bears are now a mainstream element of the gay community at large because of the community.

Controversy

• In 1992, Bear Magazine, under pressure from its worldwide distributor, threatened trademark infringement lawsuits against several smaller publications which included the word "Bear" in their title. This caused a good deal of animosity between the smaller, often locally-oriented and local-bear-group operated-publications, and the internationally distributed "Bear".

• As the Bear Culture has matured, it has subdivided itself, and many claim that discrimination has increased within the Bear community as some men who self-identify as "Bears" or "Musclebears" do not welcome higher-bodyfat men (see Chub (gay slang)) at their events. The chubby community is a subculture in the Gay community Chubbies (or "chubs" are gay men who are Overweight or obese. A common criticism of the Bear community is that some self-described Bears tend to exclude men who do not fit their standards of what a "real Bear" is. Fat (or lack of it) is a political issue among Bears, some of whom see their overweight condition as a form of self-acceptance. Some also note a lack of racial diversity in the Bear community, believing this to be largely "white" beauty standard. The term race or racial group usually refers to the concept of categorizing Humans into Populations or groups on the basis of various sets White People is the second album by Handsome Boy Modeling School. However what appears as racial exclusion to some may merely be a result of genetic tendency of Native Americans, Asians, Pacific Islanders, among others, away from body hair.

• The AIDS devastation in San Francisco accelerated the generation gap between older and younger Bear-identified men, peaking in the early 1990s, with few connections that survived between the two. Some older survivors claim that the current Bear culture has become "shallow and catty", which is also their common criticism of mainstream gay culture, claiming that the younger Bear Community cannot identify with the culture's original roots as a masculine alternative for rural, masculine-identified gay men, and further that the idea of Bear "pageants" and "title winners" runs completely contrary to the original Bear concept of idolizing the straight-appearing masculine blue-collar American male. As with all social offshoots, Bear culture will continue to evolve, subdivide, and influence styles and lifestyles of gays and straights alike.

References in pop culture

Though not generally widely known outside of the gay community, the "Bear" concept has surfaced in pop culture. Gay community or LGBT community is a term used to describe the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender subculture

Live Events

• On September 1, 2007, in a live interview called "The TrekTrak Show" with Star Trek: The Next Generation actors Jonathan Frakes (Riker), Brent Spiner (Data) and Gates McFadden (Dr. Star Trek The Next Generation ( STTNG or TNG) is an Emmy and Peabody Award-winning science fiction television program created by Gene Roddenberry Crusher) at Dragon*Con, host Eric L. Dragon Con (also Dragon*Con) is a North America multigenre convention, held annually in Atlanta Georgia. Watts (who self-identifies as a Bear) asked Frakes if he was aware that he was "something of an icon in the Bear community. "^[4]

Television

• On the Sept 25, 2007 episode of The Late Show with David Letterman, director Kevin Smith revealed that he will be on the cover of the next issue of A Bear's Life magazine, and gives the audience a quick introduction to Bears in general. Events 303 - On a voyage preaching the Gospel, Saint Fermin of Pamplona is beheaded in Amiens, France Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The Late Show with David Letterman is an Emmy Award -winning American late-night Talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS Kevin Patrick Smith (born August 2 1970 is an American Screenwriter, Writer, Film director, Actor and Comic book writer
• On the July 25, 2007 episode of Top Chef, the host reads a question from a viewer directed towards Tom Colicchio asking, "Do you realize that you are an icon of the Bear community?"
• On the American cartoon "Family Guy", a television show that Peter is watching called "The life and times of Grizzly Adams" portrays Grizzly Adams and his bear pal "Ben" as a feuding gay couple. Events 285 - Diocletian appoints Maximian as Caesar, co-ruler Top Chef is an American reality competition show that airs on the Cable television network Bravo, in which chefs compete against each Family Guy is an animated American television sitcom created by Seth MacFarlane that airs on Fox and regularly on other Grizzly Adams is the main character from The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams, a 1974 film Ben has a high voice and is washing dishes, a clear allusion to gay bears, as Ben is a very large grizzly bear in the real series and the cartoon.
• On the American television show Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, a stocky and hairy man receiving a makeover was informed by one of the hosts that, "In our community, you would be called a Cub!"
• The Kids in the Hall Season 5 episode 2 1994, a skit called Grizzly showed Kevin McDonald being "attacked by a bear" in a gay bar and surviving by flashing back to his Boy Scout training, eventually "playing dead". Queer Eye is an Emmy award-winning American Reality television series that premiered on the Bravo cable television network on July 15 The Kids in the Hall is a Canadian Sketch comedy group formed in 1984 consisting of comedians Dave Foley, Kevin McDonald, Kevin Hamilton McDonald (born May 16, 1961) is a Canadian comedian and actor known as a member of the Canadian sketch comedy group Kids in the ^[5]
• In The L Word, season three's episode 2 (Lost Weekend), characters Jenny and Moira enter a club's "Bear Night" and dance among large, bearded men. The L Word is a Television Drama series on Showtime that portrays the lives of a group of Lesbian, Bisexual and
• On the reality show Can't Get a Date, singer/actor James Bradford identifies as a Bear (but is shown actively trying to lose weight)
• On the June 19, 2006 episode of The Colbert Report, Stephen Colbert listed Bears as the top threat to his continued heterosexuality, a play on his previously stated fear of the animal of the same name. Can't Get a Date is a documentary-style Reality show on VH1 and Logo. Events 1179 - The Norwegian Battle of Kalvskinnet outside Nidaros. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The Colbert Report (/kolˈbɛr rəˈpɔr/&mdashthe t is silent in "Colbert" is a Peabody Award and Emmy Award winning American Stephen Tyrone Colbert ( born May 13 1964 is an American Comedian, satirist, Actor and Writer, known for his ironic style
• On the 11 August 2006 episode of Big Brother's Big Mouth, Russell Brand spoke to a member of the studio audience and asked them "You're what is known in the gay community as a Bear, aren't you?"
• On an episode of The Simpsons, Homer Simpson leaves his wife and while looking for a place to live, ends up apartment searching in Springfield's gay village. Events 2492 BC - Traditional date of the defeat of Bel by Hayk, progenitor and founder of the Armenian nation Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. This is a complete list of shows about and relating to Big Brother (UK. Russell Edward Brand (born June 4 1975 is a British Comedian, Actor, Columnist and a Presenter of Radio and Homer Jay Simpson is a main fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons and father of the eponymous family. A gay village (also known as a gay neighborhood or by the slang gayborhood) is an urban geographic location with generally recognized boundaries While standing with the closeted Waylon Smithers, a group of Smithers' friends drive by with one of them yelling "Hey Waylon! Who's the Bear? Woof!" (referring to Simpson. Coming outThe expressions " closeted " or "in the closet " generally refer to undisclosed sexual behavior, Sexual orientation or Gender Waylon Smithers Jr is a recurring Fictional character in the animated series The Simpsons, who is voiced by Harry Shearer. )
• In another episode of The Simpsons in which a Brown Bear wanders into Springfield, Homer stirs up the government to provide a "bear patrol" to rid the town of bears. The Brown Bear ( Ursus arctos) is an Omnivorous Mammal of the family Ursidae, distributed across much of northern Eurasia and Springfield' may refer to Springfield (toponym, the place name in general Springfield (The Simpsons, the fictional hometown On their protest march to the town hall Homer chants "We're here, we're queer, we don't want anymore bears" when Lenny asks if Homer came up with it Homer claims "Oh, I heard it at the mustache parade they have every year".
• In the animated TV series Freak Show, one of Freak Squad's members is Log Cabin Republican, a thin, effeminate homosexual whose superhuman ability is to turn into the "Burly Bear", a taller, more muscular man dressed in biker gear. Freak Show was an Animated television series on Comedy Central created and starring actors David Cross and H The Log Cabin Republicans ( LCR) is a federated gay and lesbian political organization in the United States with state chapters and a national office in
• On an episode of Late Night With Conan O'Brien, the actor David Duchovny claimed that his daughter nearly stumbled upon a web site dedicated to gay Bears, while researching a project on the animals. Late Night with Conan O'Brien is an Emmy Award -winning American late-night Talk show hosted by Conan O'Brien on NBC David William Duchovny (born August 7, 1960) is a two-time Golden Globe Award -winning American television and film Actor, best known He then went on to awkwardly describe the Bear community, as well as claiming that O'Brien's former sidekick Andy Richter was considered a "cub" by members of the community. Paul Andrew "Andy" Richter (born October 28 1966 is an American Comedian and actor
• In an episode of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia entitled "The Gang Sells Out", the gang, in trying to sell their bar to a representative of a national chain, discusses at length the differences between bears and twinks, when the representative informs the gang that he is gay. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is an American television sitcom created by Rob McElhenney and developed by McElhenney and Glenn Howerton

BEAR Music

• BEARAPALOOZA - The Original Bear music festival Bearapalooza is touring group of musicians identified as Bears, that was founded by musician Freddy Freemanin New York City in 2002. The event is co-produced by Nashville singer/songwriter Michael West.

Over the last 6 years Bearapalooza has traveled across the country to cities including Seattle, Washington, Dade City, Florida, New York City, Rye NY, Baltimore, Nashville, Washington D. Dade City is a city in Pasco County, Florida. The population was 6188 at the 2000 census C. , Raleigh NC, Boston, Philadelphia and many others. Next on the schedule for 2008 is Milwaukee, LA, Seattle, Texas and possibly the UK. Its current homebase is Nashville, Tennessee. Beginning May 2008 they will be touring the nation, visiting over 15 major cities and showcasing the talent of over 27 Bear Identified acts. CHECK OUT Bearapalooza for tour dates, artist info, music, media and so much more.

• Bears On The Run is a tour of four solo Bear musician artists featuring Elijah Black, Matthew Temple, Shannon Grady, Kendall, and hosted by comedian Bobaloo. The tour has travelled to twenty major US cities including Dallas, Austin, Houston, Atlanta, Nashville, Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Chicago, St. Louis, Tulsa, Wichita, Buffalo, Albany, Provincetown, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington D. C. , Baltimore, Asbury Park, and New York City.

• Bear Radio Network is a 24/7 radio webcast based in Rochester, New York for the Bear Community. Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York State, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. The program features a mix of bear-identified indie artists. ^[6]

• The song "Oh Word?" by The Beastie Boys contain the lyrics "I swear it wasn't me in Bear magazine / Because I'm not that hairy oh contrary".

• Bearforce1 is a popular Bear pop-group in the NetherlandsBEARFORCE1

Books

• Chris Nelson's original San Francisco Bear Magazine photograph collection, which first depicted bearish men from Bear Magazine are collected in The Bear Cult: Photographs by Chris Nelson (1992, ISBN 0-85449-161-9) from Gay Men's Press, London.
• Les K. Wright edited two nonfiction anthologies, The Bear Book: Readings in the History and Evolution of a Gay Male Subculture (1997, ISBN 1-56023-890-9), and The Bear Book 2 (2001, ISBN 1-56023-165-3), both from Haworth Press.
• Ray Kampf authored The Bear Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide for Those Who Are Husky, Hairy and Homosexual, and Those Who Love 'Em (2000, ISBN 1-56023-997-2). The Bear Handbook website
• Ron Suresha authored a 2002 nonfiction anthology, Bears on Bears: Interviews & Discussions (ISBN 1-55583-578-3), 25 dialogues with 57 bear-identified men and bear-lovers from around the world, including interviews with comedian Bruce Vilanch, porn model Jack Radcliffe, and Survivor star Richard Hatch. Ron Suresha, pen names Ron Jackson Suresha and Ron Jackson, is an American Author and Anthologist of books centering on Bruce Vilanch (born November 23, 1948) is an American Comedy writer who caught the public eye when he became a Wisecracking regular Jack Radcliffe is the pseudonym for an American Gay Pornographic film performer and model Survivor is an American version of the Survivor Reality television Game show based on the Swedish television Richard Hatch (born April 8, 1961) is the winner of the first American Survivor series which aired in 2000 and was set in Borneo. Suresha edited two fiction anthologies, Bearotica: Hot, Hairy, Heavy Fiction (2002, ISBN 1-55583-577-5), and Bear Lust: Hot, Hairy, Heavy Fiction (2004, ISBN 1-55583-818-9), also published by Alyson Publications
• Jonathan Cohen authored a 2003 novel Bear Like Me (ISBN 1-56023-418-0), Southern Tier Editions
• In the book I'm a Believer by Jessica Adams (ISBN 0-312-32107-4), one of the central characters is a bear. " I'm a Believer " is a song composed by Neil Diamond and recorded by the band The Monkees in 1966 with the lead vocals by Micky Dolenz
• PJ Gray authored a 2005 cookbook, More Bear Cookin': Bigger and Better (ISBN 1-56023-326-5), illustrated by Terry J; a revision of the 2003 book, Bear Cookin': The Original Guide to Bear Comfort Foods by PJ Gray and Stanley Hunter: both published by Harrington Park Press
• In Wayne Hoffman's 2006 novel, Hard, the central character is a Bear.

Periodicals

• In her April 2002 Village Voice column, sexuality advocate and author Tristan Taormino unpacked some aspects of the subculture. This article is about a New York newspaper For the Ottawa Hills Ohio magazine see The Village Voice of Ottawa Hills. Tristan Taormino (born May 9, 1971) is an award-winning Author, Columnist, editor Pornographic film director (and occasional actress
• In August 2003, weblogger Andrew Sullivan acknowledged himself a Bear in an article on the bear community for Salon.com. A blog (a contraction of the term " Web log " is a Web site, usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary descriptions of Andrew Michael Sullivan (born August 10 1963 is a prominent Blogger, author and Political commentator. Saloncom, part of Salon Media Group ( often just called Salon, is an online
• In the December 2007 issue of Instinct magazine, film actor, writer and producer Kevin Smith wrote "The Last Word" page, the last page of the magazine each month that is written by a celebrity. Instinct ( is a monthly American Magazine geared toward Gay men published by Instinct Publishing Inc Kevin Patrick Smith (born August 2 1970 is an American Screenwriter, Writer, Film director, Actor and Comic book writer Smith writes about his gay brother Don, him being on the cover of A Bear's Life magazine and the related cover story, and his feelings about being a "Bear icon" in the gay community. ^[7]

Films

• Cachorro (Bear Cub), dir. Cachorro (known as Bear Cub in English -speaking markets is a 2004 Spanish Gay -themed (in particular the Miguel Albaladejo, Spain, 2004 - IMDb page--a drama about an urban Bear who parents his nephew when the boy's mother goes to jail. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again "
• A Dirty Shame, dir. A Dirty Shame is a 2004 comedy directed and written by John Waters starring Tracey Ullman, Selma Blair, Johnny John Waters, U.S., 2004--a satirical film that includes a bear family: "Papa Bear," "Mama Bear," and "Baby Bear. John Samuel Waters Jr (born April 22, 1946) is an American filmmaker, Actor, Writer, Celebrity, The United States of America —commonly referred to as the "
• In the film Another Gay Movie, reality show star Richard Hatch was referred to as a Million-Dollar Bear. Another Gay Movie is a 2006 Feature film, directed by Todd Stephens, Humorously and satirically exploring Gay Richard Hatch is a name used by the following people Richard Hatch (actor, played Captain Apollo in the original Battlestar Galactica and plays Tom
• In I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, a woman asks the character played by Adam Sandler if he is a chubby chaser, thus implying that the character played by Kevin James is a chubby gay guy. I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (aka Chuck and Larry) is a 2007 Comedy film directed by Dennis Dugan and starring Adam Richard Sandler (born September 9 1966 is an American Comedian, Chubby chaser is a term that refers to a person who is attracted to an overweight sexual partner The name Kevin James may refer to Kevin James (actor, American actor and comedian Kevin James (alleged terrorist, American arrested

Many short films about Bears can be seen in film festivals (gay/queer film festivals as well as local/international film festivals), including:

• Men on Fur on Men, dirs. Short subject is a format description originally coined in the North American Film industry in the early period of cinema. A film festival is the presentation or showcasing of Films in one or more Movie theaters or screening venues Martin Borden and Clark Niklolai, Canada, 2003, miniDV, 8 mins.
• A Bear’s Story, dir. Vincent Mtzlpick, US, 2003, video, 21 mins.
• Porn Proof, dir. Chris Street, Canada, 2003, miniDV, 3 mins.
• More Than Hair Care Products, dir. Pendra Wilson, Canada, 2003, miniDV, 5 mins.
• Hard Fat, dir. Frederic Moffet, Canada, 2001, video, 23 mins.
• Lazy Bear 2002, dir. Greg Garcia, US, 2002, DVD, 18 mins.
• Making of “A Bear’s Story”, dir. Village TV, US, 2003, video, 7 mins.
• My Heart the Cook, dirs. Jerry McCadden and Clark Nikolai, Canada, 2001, miniDV, 2 mins.
• 30 Bears in a Bathtub, filmed by Jonathan Robinson, and features the Manbears group in Manchester. 12 minutes.

Bear adult movie actors of note include Hank Hightower, Buster, Mickey Squires, Jack Radcliffe, Dean Peters, and Steve Hurley. Hank Hightower ( October 12, 1966) is an American Pornographic actor (porn star who appeared in Gay Pornographic movies Musclebear actors appear in films issued by COLT Studio Group and Raging Stallion. COLT Studio Group has produced all-male Erotica for over 40 years Raging Stallion Studios is an American studio in partnership with Pistol Media that produces gay pornographic movies Catalina Video has issued films in its "Furry Features Series" such as "Bear Country" (with Steve Hurley), "Bear Chested" (with Barry Barrett), and "Bear Bust" (with Paul Gator); a tie-in with its "Generation Gap Series" includes "Junior Meets the Bear Patrol" (with Damien).

Other media

• Steve C from the Opie & Anthony show is said to look like a Bear that 'enjoys a deep man kiss' from time to time. Opie ( Gregg Hughes, born May 23, 1963) Anthony ( Anthony Cumia, born April 26, 1961) and Jim A popular sound clip on the show is Steve saying "grrr. " Jim Norton (comedian) is credited with originating this persona. Jim Norton (born July 19, 1968) is an American Stand-up comedian, Radio personality, Author, and Actor.
• Perhaps the earliest reference to Beardom in pop culture may be in a fake commercial on The Firesign Theatre's Everything You Know Is Wrong album: "See that bear, lapping up that good ol' country water? Kinda makes a big, hairy guy like me thirsty. That's why I like to wrap my lips around the tall, sweaty, head of a bottle of good ol' country Bear Whiz Beer! Like my daddy said, 'Son, it's in the water! That's why it's yellow!' "
• On An Evening With Kevin Smith 2: Evening Harder, Kevin Smith asked a fan who resembled a bear if he was gay. An Evening with Kevin Smith 2 Evening Harder is the second Kevin Smith Q&A DVD Kevin Patrick Smith (born August 2 1970 is an American Screenwriter, Writer, Film director, Actor and Comic book writer The fan said that he was not, and Kevin replied, "You would have more opportunities if you were gay," then gave a brief overview of the Bear community, and said that his close friend Malcolm Ingram was a bear himself. Malcolm Ingram is a Canadian independent film director He was born in 1968 and hails from Toronto. Malcolm told Smith he would be the Marilyn Monroe of the Bear community if he was gay. Marilyn Monroe (born Norma Jeane Mortenson, June 1 1926 &ndash August 5 1962 baptized Norma

Terminology

Some terminology relating to the Bear community includes:

• Admirer - a term that refers to someone who is sexually or romantically attracted to Bears (this term is often used in various communities to describe an outsider who has sexual attraction to people within that community). Also often referred to as a Chaser. Chubby chaser is a term that refers to a person who is attracted to an overweight sexual partner Admirers/Chasers can be of any weight, hairy or hairless and any age.
• Bear - a hairy man with a stocky or heavyset build and facial hair. Can be clean shaven and of any age.
• Cub - a younger (or younger looking) version of a Bear, typically but not always with a smaller frame. The term is sometimes used to imply the passive partner in a relationship. Can be hairy or hairless.
• Daddy bear - is an older guy sometimes looking for a daddy/son relationship with either a younger Bear, Cub, Otter, Wolf or Chaser.
• Goldilocks - A female, often heterosexual, who is often in the company of bears (a bear's fag hag). A fag hag is a Slang term for a woman who either associates mostly or exclusively with Homosexual men or is best or good friends with a gay man or men Also can be referred to as an Ursula.
• Gobi Bear - A heterosexual male who is bear friendly. The Gobi bear (Ursus arctos gobiensis is a subspecies of the Brown bear, Ursus arctos, found in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia.
• Gummy Bear - A bear who dates or is exclusively attracted to other bears. A Gummi bear (sometimes spelled gummy bear) is a small rubbery-textured Confectionery, roughly two centimetres long shaped in the form of a Bear. As in, "They stick together like gummy bears. "
• Leatherbear - A bear with a leather fetish.
• Muscle bear - a muscular version of a Bear. A muscle cub is a younger or smaller, yet muscular, version. Can be hairy or hairless and of any age.
• Koala bear - a bear with blond hair
• Panda bear - a bear of Asian ethnicity. A panda cub is younger version. Usually hairless.
• Polar bear - a silver- or white-haired Bear.
• Otter - a man who is hairy, but is not large or stocky - typically thinner, or with lean muscle. Slimmer version of a Bear with little pockets of fat like love handles or a tiny gut, but not as lean as a Wolf.
• Spirit bear - a Bear that approaches his sexuality and 'inner bear' from a spiritual stand point. Usually rooted in various international and cultural references and traditions. Notably present in pagan communities where being gay is predominantly accepted.
• Wolf - A lean, masculine gay man who is attracted to bears and involved in the bear scene.
• Woof - A greeting often used when a Bear spots another Bear in public and wants to express physical attraction. He might make a growling noise ("Grrr!") or say "Woof!"
• Bear run - a gathering or circuit party for Bear/Cub types and their Admirers. A circuit party is a mega dance event extending through a night and into the following day almost always with a number of affiliated events in the days leading up to and following the
• Bear soup - a swimming pool or hot tub full of bears which usually includes lots of group cuddling and frolicking. A hot tub is a large home-made or manufactured tub or small pool full of heated water and used for soaking relaxation, Massage, or These are common place at Bear runs.
• Bearwich - a menage a trois consisting of two bears and an admirer. Ménage à trois is the French term describing a relationship or domestic arrangement in which three people share a sexual relationship Also common at Bear runs.

Bear code

Main article: The Natural Bears Classification System

"Bear codes" are sometimes used in e-mail (often as part of a signature block), web postings, and online profiles to identify Bear-related attributes of the author or poster. The Natural Bears Classification System ( NBCS or the bear code) is a set of Symbols using letters numbers and other characters commonly found on modern A signature block (often abbreviated as signature, sig block, sig file,. See, e. g. , "The Bear Codes" on the Resources for Bears Web site. A sample Bear code is:

B4 s- m g++ w d+c t+ f+ k+ r e+(+?)

Bear Code may be the earliest example (1989) of Internet self-classification codes. Familiarity with this classification system is concentrated in the subcommunity of Bears who were early adopters of Internet communications, and is not widespread within the general community.

See also

• Castro clone
• Chest hair
• Chub (gay slang)
• Facial hair
• Homomasculinity
• Homosexuality
• Leather subculture
• Masculinity
• Normal, Ohio
• Ron Suresha, author, Bears on Bears; and editor, Bearotica & Bear Lust
• Sexual orientation

References

1. Les K. Castro clone is Gay slang for an archetypical Gay man who appeared in dress and manner as a hyper- masculinized Working-class man The term chest hair is generally used to describe Hair that grows on the Chest of human males in the region between the Neck and the abdomen The chubby community is a subculture in the Gay community Chubbies (or "chubs" are gay men who are Overweight or obese. Facial hair is a Secondary sex characteristic in human Males Many Men start developing facial hair in the later years of Puberty, approximately Straight-acting is a term used to describe a person who does not exhibit the appearance or mannerisms of the gay stereotype. Homosexuality refers to sexual behavior with or attraction to people of the same sex or to a Homosexual orientation. The leather subculture denotes practices and styles of dress organized around sexual activities and Hedonistic Eroticism (" kink " Normal Ohio is an American television Sitcom, which aired on the Fox Network in 2000. Ron Suresha, pen names Ron Jackson Suresha and Ron Jackson, is an American Author and Anthologist of books centering on Sexual orientation is believed to refer to "an enduring pattern of emotional romantic and/or sexual attractions to men women or both sexes Wright, (1997). The Bear Book: Readings in the History and Evolution of a Gay Male Subculture (1997) from Haworth Press.
2. Les K. Wright, (2001). The Bear Book 2 (2001) from Haworth Press.
3. Ray Kampf, (2000). The Bear Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide for Those Who Are Husky, Hairy and Homosexual, and Those Who Love 'Em from Haworth Press.

External links

• Camille Paglia's commentary on Bears for Salon
• "I am Bear, hear me roar," Andrew Sullivan's article for Salon