What is a "gay bear"?

[Taverner]

Not a Gay Bar, but a gay bear?

My friend said in passing (he's gay...duh) that his new bf is a gay bear. I acted like I knew what he was talking about. I did not.

[JackBeck]

1. Bears are beefy, hairy types. Cubs are younger ones. n/t

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

2. From wikipedia:

The bear community is a subculture in the gay community. Bears are gay or bisexual men with hairy bodies and facial hair; some are heavy-set, but that is not a requirement. 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.
There is much debate as to the definition of a bear, with some saying that anyone who identifies themselves as a bear is a bear, and others arguing that bears must have certain physical characteristics such as chest and abdominal hair as well as facial hair.

[pagerbear]

3. On BML that would be flame-bait!

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

4. What's BML?

Yesterday, the driving habits of the NY Giants were flame bait in GD, complete with troll arguing unrelated points.

[pagerbear]

6. Bears' Mailing List.

I don't know if it exists any more. I was only on it for a short while before tiring of the bickering over subjects like What is a bear?

[querelle]

5. Here Ya Go

Just make sure Stephen Colbert doesn't see this.........

[terrya]

11. Oh, my...

That's one...imposing...guy.

[Deja Q]

23. Oh, that's something...

[cracksquirrel]

7. Obviously

Bears are godless killing machines, and they hate America. Gay bears are godless killing machines that are trying to destroy the American family with their gay bear plots.

[pagerbear]

8. Drat! Now the secret is out!

[cracksquirrel]

9. Ha!

Your gay bear machinations have been foiled once again! Go back to Oregon (Idaho's Portugal) and don't come back! Also, did I mention that populations of Elephants have tripled, nay, quadrupled in the last six months?

[xchrom]

10. let me say -- you are a hunk -- but not a bear.

and contrary to SOME of what you see here - there really is a lot of variation in the bear community.

if i can use some popular figures to illustrate.

sean connery or alex baldwin could easily be bears -- though they have broad appeal.

brad pitt could not. except when he was in his bearded phase.

i.e. not all bears are great big beer belly hairy types -- that's probably more extreme -- many if not most are just men who are somewhat more hairy than most -- and or ascribe to a kind masculine identity in their sexuality. those would be guys who are attracted to the more hairy more masculine type of men.

[cracksquirrel]

12. Aha

So "burly" would be an accurate descriptive? Size not being the deciding factor, but rather a hairy ruggedness?

[xchrom]

13. indeed.

very good word in this instance.

BUT not all men who are hairy -- or men who are into hairy guys are bears.

gets complicated doesn't it?

that was my purpose in picking the guys as an example that i did.

[Taverner]

14. So we're talking about the barrel chest then, eh?

And would Connery circa '63 be a bear?

[xchrom]

18. yes, connery circa 63 would be a bear.

there is a variety of looks in what one would call bears.

there are muscle bears -- even trim bears.

beer bellied.

barrel chested.

connery does look what could be described as more classically bear looking as he gets older.

the same with alex baldwin. even though he doesn't often wear a beard.

[Monkey see Monkey Do]

15. You need to see John Waters' "A Dirty Shame"

Mama Bear: Hey, polar bear, you know what an otter is?
Big Ethel: No.
Papa Bear: It's a bear cub who isn't fat or hairy yet, but will be!
Baby Bear: Find me a significant otter!



An unreleated clip from the film:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_LKuNEHWys

[meegbear]

16. Me ...

QED

[cracksquirrel]

17. The eyebrows...

THE EYEBROWS!!!

[meegbear]

20. LOL!

Yep, thats all you need

[maxsolomon]

19. i guess i'm a straight bear, then

chest, stomach, back hair, beard, ear & nose hair that needs regular attention.

but i'm not THAT hairy, i'm just 1/4 hungarian.

[begin_within]

21. Bears are hairy and fat guys. Otters are hairy and skinny guys.

[billyskank]

22. Being a literal-minded type

I would have assumed it was a bear who preferred other bears of the same gender.