GachiMuchi Posted May 18, 2019 Report Share Posted May 18, 2019 (edited) A brief history of the gay bears and big boys scene Where did the gay bears scene originate and how did it spread so rapidly to every corner of the gay world? Provincetown Bears Week is one of the biggest bear gatherings in the world (Photo: Provincetown Bears Week/Facebook) 17 May 2019 13:03 BST David Hudson For those tumbling on to the gay scene for the first time today, it might be tempting to think bears have always been with us. However, although gay bars – both underground and overground – existed for much of the 20th century, the commercial bears scene is a more recent phenomenon. Most agree that the nascent bear scene gained traction in California. In his seminal and authorative Bear Book, historian Les Wright says there are two entries for ‘bear club’ in the minutes of a Los Angeles-based Motorcycle club in 1966. Friends at International Bear Convergence 2019, Palm Springs, California (Photo: By @bearinf via @kahthexis on Instagram) San Francisco Further strands of the baby bear scene can be traced back to San Francisco. The California city, a magnet for LGBTI people since the early 1900s, was among the first US cities to develop an identifiable gay scene. As the gay scene grew, it diversified. Leather bars, like the Tool Box, began to emerge in the 1960s. They catered for those turned on by bikers and men in uniform. They became the places to hang out if you were into Tom of Finland-style, rugged men. This included guys who were hairy or large. Soon enough, bigger guys – who appreciated the fact others found their size attractive – were being identified as their own sub-group: bears. ‘Girth and Mirth’ The term ‘bear’ began to be bandied around increasingly in the 1970s for any gay man who was big and hirsute. There already existed loose, informal networks of self-identified ‘chubby chasers’ in the US. These became more formalized when a San Francisco man, Charlie Brown, placed a small ad in counter-culture newspaper, Berkeley Barb, in February 1976 calling for a meeting of gay chubbies and chasers. This led to the first ‘Girth and Mirth’ group, an informal gathering of guys who were chubby or overweight. Girth and Mirth groups soon followed in New York and Boston. As a group to celebrate overweight men and those who liked them, it was very much a proto-bears organization. In 1979, writer George Mazzei penned an article for The Advocate magazine in which he asked, ‘Who’s who in the zoo?’. It split gay men down into seven different types of animals, and the bear was one of them. It noted, ‘bears are usually hunky, chunky types reminiscent of railroad engineers and former football greats. They have larger chests and bellies than average and notably muscular legs. Some Italian-American bears, however, are leaner and smaller; it’s attitude that makes a bear.’ This wasn’t just a West Coast phenomenon. There are reports of groups of bearish men meeting at Florida bars such as The Ramrod and Tool Room in Miami and Tacky’s in Fort Lauderdale. Bear magazine The pace picked up in the mid-80s. California-based publishers Richard Bulger and his partner Chris Nelson launched Bear magazine in 1987. A friend of Bulger’s, Bart Thomas, began the title as a photocopied magazine of sexy photos and personal adverts. However, he died from AIDS-related illness shortly after it began and Bulger took it over. The arrival of Bear magazine in the late 1980s cemented bears as a gay subculture (Images: Bear magazine) One contributor to Bear magazine was cartoonist Fran Frisch. Raised in Minnesota, Frisch worked in a steel mill for much of his career. But he developed a side-line as a cartoonist. He began to send his artwork of to gay magazines in the mid-80s and selling his bear T-shirts at Bear Hug parties in San Francisco, which he began to visit regularly. In 1990, he moved to the city. He went on to be one of the co-founders of the 1992 Bear Expo, which developed into International Bear Rendezvous. Now 70, and retired to Palm Springs, he has fond memories of the early bears scene. A bear illustration by Fran Frisch (Reproduced with permission) He says big men and bears, ‘weren’t recognized until they started to show their strength as a community, with the Bear Expo (1992) and Bear Rendezvous (1995). They opened up the city, and the gay community opened up their arms to them. ‘Before that, it was underground, a subculture. Then in the late 80s and early 90s, it almost became popular to be a bear in San Francisco.’ The launch of Bear magazine really cemented bears as a gay sub-sect. A year later, Drummer magazine published its own 21-page ‘Mountain Men’ feature – the first time it had devoted such a celebration to bear-ish men. Bear Hug and the arrival of the internet At the same time, the initial bear gatherings sprung up. At the beginning, these were grassroots social groups, such as Bear Hug in the US. In tandem, the early internet arrived. Invites to private bear parties appeared on computer bulletin boards in the San Francisco area. The previously unheard of ability for men to connect online led to new self-identifying groups to proliferate – and bears were at the forefront of this. One of the most popular was Bears Mailing List (BML), which arrived in 1988 courtesy of founders Steve Dyer and Brian Gollum. Beefy sex appeal amid a time of crisis Queer historians have also observed that the bear scene sprung up following the arrival of AIDS and HIV. In the 80s, many men feared appeared too skinny in case anyone think they might be ill. Some even perceived chubbiness as a sign of good health. Also, after the long hair and moustaches of the 70s, fashion went clean cut in the 1980s (see Tom Cruise in Top Gun for mid-80s sex appeal zeitgeist). However, this hairless and slim beauty ideal didn’t appeal to everyone. Post-Stonewall, after finding the courage to admit liking men, some people felt more empowered to talk about exactly what type of men they liked – and it wasn’t slender or toned. Dedicated venues for big guys began to emerge. The Lone Star Saloon, which was to become one of the most famous bear bars in the world, opened in San Francisco in early 1989 on the corner of Howard and 7th (its founder, Rick Redewell, died within a couple of years of its opening). Disaster struck the bar just six months after opening. The Loma Prieta earthquake resulted in the bar having to be demolished. It reopened in its current location, 1354 Harrison Street. Photo: The Lone Star Salon/Facebook The 1990s Chris Nelson, of Bear magazine, went on to publish an influential photography book, The Bear Cult, in 1991. The early 90s also saw the emergence of ever bigger bear events. The aforementioned International Bear Expo ran for three years in San Francisco: 1992, 1993 and 1994, including an International Mr Bear competition in 1992. This evolved in International Bear Rendezvous. Fran Frisch was involved with co-founding the first couple of Bear Expos. He says the goal of the first one, which took place at the Holiday Inn on California Street on San Francisco, was to demonstrate the joy and strength in creating a bear community. ‘Our goal was was to get the other bears organized in their city, so they didn’t have to come to San Francisco or New York to feel accepted. That was our main goal: to help other bears in other cities feel they could have events and do things themselves.’ Mid-00s bear magazines from the US and Europe Bears go international This explosion in the American bear scene quickly spread internationally. Towards the late 80s, a group called Chubbies and Bears began to meet at the Mortimer Arms on Tottenham Court Road, London. It eventually settled on Wednesday and Saturday nights at The Empire in Holborn, where it ran until the late 90s. ‘The first Wednesday, 20 people attended,’ remembers organizer John Broaders. ‘We thought this isn’t going to work but the next week it was about 200. Word of mouth got out. This was 1990-1991. ‘There was nowhere for people to go who either liked big guys or were big themselves or the beary type. It was the right place at the right time.’ Other social groups and networks that sprung up in the UK included Bears UK and Bearhug, while the Kings Arms in Soho became another popular bears hangout. British BearHug magazine, For Bears (Photo: BearHug) Britain embraces bears and big men In 1993, Bulk opened in London. It produced a regular newsletter (Bulk Delivery) for members and launched as a fortnightly club at the Block in Islington. It was an instant success and soon sought a weekly Saturday home. ‘The whole concept of “bears”, was drifting over from the US,’ promoter Bobby Pickering recalls to Gay Star News. Bulk Delivery newsletter – a precursor of the London club, Bulk ‘My partner Derek and I wanted to develop a club space on a much bigger scale, drawing all types of gay guys together – chubbies, bears, body builders, gainers, older guys. ‘The time was just ripe, as the demographics of the gay scene were shifting. Guys were getting a bit older, and many found they were feeling unwelcome at main gay venues. Also, there was a real “no fats / no fems” mentality about a rigid acceptable gay identity at the time that we felt needed challenging.’ The club ran until the late 1990s. After its closure, promoter Mark Ames opened up XXL in 2000, which has gone on to become the biggest weekly bears club in the world. It currently occupies the 5,000-capacity Pulse near London Bridge. Down Under Clubs sprang up all over Europe in the early 90s, and the Federation of European Big Men’s Clubs emerged in 1992, loosely connecting groups such as Sweden’s Viking Bears, Berlin’s Heavy Teddies and various Girth and Mirth groups. In Australia, a club called OzBears Australia ran from 1990 to 1995 in Sydney. It was followed by the formation of Harbour City Bears in 1995. Queensland got Brisbears in 1993, while VicBears formed in Melbourne in 1996. All three groups to continue to this day, hosting regular events. A ‘Bears flag’ was created in 1995 based on an idea by Washington DC’s Craig Byrnes. It features a bears paw in one corner, over seven stripes representing different nationalities and colors of fur. It remains a popular hallmark of bear clubs and events. The bear flag arrived in 1995 Bear festivals: From Berlin to Bangkok With the growth of gay bars and clubs, there’s been a similar growth in big bear gatherings. Lazy Bear Weekend has been running since 1996 in Guerneville, California. Provincetown Bears Week arrived in 2001 – and the first Bear Week in Sitges – one of the biggest bear events in Europe – in 2006. The early bears scene was very white and hairy – reflecting its roots in the populist imagery of American blue collar workers. However, that image has diversified. For example, Chubby Bear Bangkok is a regular bears gathering in Thailand, while BearMex attracts bear lovers to Mexico City. In the US, Big Boy Pride hosts events and a big annual gathering aimed at African American big guys. You will find a bear or big boy event in almost every country where there is a gay scene, from Iceland to Argentina, Germany to Canada. Big Boy Pride 2018 (Photo: @only1bloo_23 | Instagram) The bear world has become a broader church. However, it remains a curiously queer phenomenon. Where is the equivalent straight worship of the husky big man? By contrast, we have gay bear underwear brands, web shows, movies, musicians, bear cabaret performers and go-go’s, porn stars and hairy and beary Instagram thotties. DVD artwork for Spanish gay-themed movie, Bear Cub (2004) and web-series, Where The Bears Are (2012) Dating apps From online bulletin boards to geo-location dating, another big unifier of the bear scene was the arrival of Growlr. US entrepreneur Coley Cummiskey launched the app in 2010. He announced its sale last month to big tech company Meet for $12million. That perhaps demonstrates another aspect of the bear scene’s evolution. From informal groups of friends meeting in bars and turning out photocopied newsletters, to big business and high-production values. It’s perhaps lost some of its community bonhomie along the way. Fran Frisch remembers the early days of Bear Expo as feeling like he was part of a ‘fraternity’. A Chubby Bear Bangkok pool party (Photo: Chubby Bear Bangkok/Facebook) ‘It’s changed from its grassroots to what it is now,’ he concedes. ‘The muscle bear and pretty bear type of thing … I guess it’s just progressed the way the rest of the gay scene has progressed. Whereas we were grassroots people, they’re now enjoying the beardom without the hard work! ‘I think that’s partly the internet. But it doesn’t upset me,’ he laughs. ‘It’s just how it works.’ For many, whether online or in real life, the evolving bears scene continues to provide a sanctuary: a self-empowering celebration of the big, hairy and plus-size beautiful. Edited May 18, 2019 by GachiMuchi Quote http://gachimuchi2008.blogspot.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GachiMuchi Posted May 18, 2019 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2019 Twink to bear: Gay man's transformation photo goes viral EXCLUSIVE: Dusty Fuller was happy to say goodbye to abs and hello to his belly: ‘I feel like I fit in my own skin much better than I did before’ Dusty Fuller, aged 29 (left), and now, aged 34 (right) (Photo: @Cubby_84 | Twitter) 7 December 2018 12:28 BST David Hudson A gay man’s transformation photos have gone viral. However, although most body transformation comparison shots show someone slimming down, Dusty Fuller’s go in the opposite direction. And the vast majority of commentators approve. Fuller went from having abs and being somewhat twinkish in his mid-20s, to being a full on hefty gay bear in his early 30s. Now 34, the two photos are taken five years apart. He now weighs 275 lbs, on a 5’10” frame, approximately 100 lbs than the earlier shot. https://twitter.com/Cubby_84/status/1070382286195982336 The shot, posted to Twitter Wednesday, has been liked over 5,000 times, retweeted over 500 times and prompted hundreds of comments. Fellow Twitter users have congratulated him on his ‘phenomenal’ new look. Others want to know how he achieved it. Smalltown boy Fuller, a Business Analyst, grew up in a small town in Nebraska but moved to Phoenix at 21 to escape smalltown life. He’s been married to his husband, Steve, for the past 2.5 years. His body transformation raises questions about body positivity and healthy body goals. He was happy to tell Gay Star News about how he set about changing his appearance. ‘My weight gain was on purpose,’ he says when asked the motivating factor behind the change. ‘I used to strive to be a huge muscled dude with abs. I started lifting weights in 2012 and worked hard at lifting and counting calories and macros for a few years. However, I just wasn’t increasing my size like I wanted to. ‘I had always been envious of beefier muscled bears, so in 2015 I decided to go that route to increase my size… Adding both muscle and some chubbiness so I could get big. ‘I wanted to become a Bear. ’ Perhaps surprisingly, he says his ideal type of man, ‘is a leaner muscular guy, like my hubby!’ It wasn’t simply a case of transforming himself into the type of man he finds sexually attractive. ‘I am attracted to some bigger guys, mainly if they have some muscle on their frame too. However, I think a lot of it is more of an admiration than a sexual attraction.’ Dusty (right) and husband, Steve (left) (Photo: Supplied) Putting on weight harder than some might imagine Many might assume that putting on weight is easy, but Fuller says achieving a balance between chubbiness and muscle is far from easy. ‘It’s actually been a lot of work to achieve my appearance. I certainly haven’t “let myself go.” I don’t gain weight easily. It falls off if I only eat what I am hungry for, thanks to my fast metabolism. ‘I am in the gym lifting weights usually four days a week for 1-1.5 hours a day. I count calories and try to aim for around 4,000 to 5,000 a day. Eating that much can be exhausting at times.’ Health risks of transformation Carrying around excess weight can have seriously detrimental implications on one’s health. Does Fuller consider himself ‘healthy’ or ‘unhealthy’? And has his current body shape had any negative ramifications on his life? ‘I’m pretty healthy in general. I get routine labs and physicals. My cholesterol is fine. I do take a blood pressure med, but I needed that when I had abs, so it was inevitable. ‘I do struggle with bad knees, but it’s due to genetics. My thin family members have the same issue. I don’t think there are really any negative ramifications for me. If anything major came up, I’d lose some weight. My health takes priority over my weight and size.’ Fuller says he’s also aware of the risk of diabetes. An increase in weight, particularly around the abdominal region, can increase the risk of developing type II diabetes. ‘I watch my health closely so I’m aware of anything that may come up. I’m also careful with sugar intake to avoid such illnesses.’ Photo: @dusty_f | Instagram Many of those who follow Fuller on Instagram and Twitter (where he has become active since Tumblr announced it was banning adult content), approve of his transformation. But how does he feel? Does he feel more attractive now to how he looked five years ago? ‘Depends on the situation. I feel like I fit in my own skin much better than I did before. If I’m at a bear event or circuit party, then yes. If I’m at a straight club, then no. But in general, I do feel more attractive. Looking ahead He says a couple of family members have told him he looked better when leaner, but most have not commented. ‘I haven’t heard anything negative from friends. I may have lost a couple shallow friends, but I’m very much okay with that!’ As for the future, ‘I’m looking to gain 5-10 more pounds, hopefully some of it being muscle. And then maintain what I have. I’m really happy with where I’m at now.’ Quote http://gachimuchi2008.blogspot.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GachiMuchi Posted May 18, 2019 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2019 Stunning photos of naked men spearhead body positivity project EXCLUSIVE: Arrested Movement has been devised by Toronto-based photographer Anthony Patrick Manieri The image that launched the Arrested Movement project (Photo: Anthony Patrick Manieri) 6 February 2018 12:50 BST David Hudson A Toronto-based photographer is making waves with a new photo project to promote body positivity. Anthony Patrick Manieri, 47, is a self-taught, full-time photographer who specializes in portraiture and food photography. He also does the occasional wedding commission. ‘Over the past 25 years, I can remember countless times when the subject I was photographing would mention something about themselves that they didn’t like, and would prefer if I could mask that specific physical insecurity,’ Manieri says, explaining how the idea for his Arrested Movement project came about. Manieri says this struck a nerve with him. (Photo: By Anthony Patrick Manieri/Arrested Movement) ‘It was a behavior I practiced as well in my 20’s and 30’s. I would immediately mention my weight when I would walk into a room and make a joke about it first, in hopes that no one else would.’ Manieri says he has been studying spirituality and practicing mindfulness and meditation for several years. It drew him to the idea of promoting body positivity. ‘The researcher Masaru Emoto believed that water has consciousness, and it reacts to positive and negative energy and vibration. Adult human bodies are made up of 60% water. If we body shame ourselves, or other people for that matter, it will inherently affect us on a molecular level. Our bodies can hear us, so we need to be kind to ourselves.’ (Photo: Anthony Patrick Manieri/Arrested Movement) Manieri says this new project is a slight departure for him. Censored images from the series are featured here. ‘I had been photographing portraits of bear-ish men, which I enjoyed, but most of it had no personal relevance to my current work or mind set. Except for one image [top of page] that I had taken of a friend in London a year prior. ‘It was used on his Instagram page, and it had been received very well. In October 2016, while sitting on a plane headed back to London, I felt as if the idea of Arrested Movement was downloaded into my brain. ‘I used that image as a starting point. When I landed, I knew exactly what kind of project I was going to work on. I had no idea, however, it would consist of photographing in multiple cities across North America and Europe.’ (Photo: Anthony Patrick Manieri/Arrested Movement) Arrested Movement Manieri says that when he arrived back in Toronto, he initially asked a handful of guys if they’d pose for him. At the eleventh hour, and to fill up the whole day of studio time, he posted an open call for participants. (Photo: Anthony Patrick Manieri/Arrested Movement) ‘What went from expecting to only photograph 10-15 men and have the series completed in one day, instead over 30 men reached out confirming their interest, which then turned into a full two-day, 20-hour shoot. ‘Some of the men were local to Toronto, and some men lived as far as five hours away, commuting in a snow storm in January. ‘I asked each of the men why they decided to participate, and for some to have driven that far through those conditions. (Photo: Anthony Patrick Manieri/Arrested Movement) ‘The majority of their answers were the same: This series wasn’t erotic or exploitive. It was an artistic narrative of self-love and self empowerment, it was something completely out of their comfort zone, and they believed the message behind it could help others, if not just themselves.’ He says that when his initial models began to post the images from his first shoot, men quickly contacted him to ask if he had plans to visit other cities. (Photo: Anthony Patrick Manieri/Arrested Movement) Shoots worldwide: ‘It seems this project has hit a nerve’ ‘I’ve received messages from people all over North America and Europe, some from the Middle East, Australia and South America…inquiring about the project, sharing their stories and support…and for some, their willingness to participate in it. It seems this project has hit a nerve. It has become a very humbling experience.’ He’s now self-funded shoots in Montreal, Vancouver, London, Rome, NYC and Miami. Los Angeles will be next. The project, once completed, will enjoy a gallery tour. An uncensored book is also in the pipeline. He says some of the shoots have proved emotionally testing. Some of his models – the majority of whom are gay – have come with particularly touching stories. One man was dealing with serious illness and facing an uncertain future, but was determined to be captured by Manieri’s lens, despite not feeling at his best. ‘This is an inclusive project about self-empowerment and being able to love yourself’ There has been some debate online whether the use of ‘plus size’ models promotes unhealthy body ideals. Has Manieri had any negative reaction to the portraits? (Photo: Anthony Patrick Manieri/Arrested Movement) ‘I find it amusing and sad at the same time, as I’ve already started to receive a few comments from internet trolls. But they are out-weighed by the vast amount of positive feedback the project has received,’ he replies. ‘This project has nothing to do with celebrating or promoting obesity, eating disorders, or an unhealthy lifestyle. This is an inclusive project about self-empowerment and being able to love yourself just as you are. (Photo: Anthony Patrick Manieri/Arrested Movement) ‘It’s for men of all races, from very thin to large, Little People to super tall, men who live with physical disabilities, transgendered men, Two Spirited men…everyone. ‘The pressures to look perfect can be isolating. We as a culture are being fed images through advertising, movies, television and now the juggernaut of social media as to what the perfect body is. But isn’t everyone perfect?’ (Photo: Anthony Patrick Manieri/Arrested Movement) Quote http://gachimuchi2008.blogspot.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve5380 Posted May 18, 2019 Report Share Posted May 18, 2019 2 hours ago, GachiMuchi said: A brief history of the gay bears and big boys scene ----- That perhaps demonstrates another aspect of the bear scene’s evolution. From informal groups of friends meeting in bars and turning out photocopied newsletters, to big business and high-production values. It’s perhaps lost some of its community bonhomie along the way. Fran Frisch remembers the early days of Bear Expo as feeling like he was part of a ‘fraternity’. A Chubby Bear Bangkok pool party (Photo: Chubby Bear Bangkok/Facebook) ‘It’s changed from its grassroots to what it is now,’ he concedes. ‘The muscle bear and pretty bear type of thing … I guess it’s just progressed the way the rest of the gay scene has progressed. Whereas we were grassroots people, they’re now enjoying the beardom without the hard work! ‘I think that’s partly the internet. But it doesn’t upset me,’ he laughs. ‘It’s just how it works.’ For many, whether online or in real life, the evolving bears scene continues to provide a sanctuary: a self-empowering celebration of the big, hairy and plus-size beautiful. The photo above was taken at Babylon. I attended there a "bears and chubs party" when I was staying at its barracks on Songkran 2016, and because I was a "guest" they let me in. It could have been the same party (I remember the tent on upper left where they served beer). At that event I realized that bears have their own culture, and I saw a lot of happy people and good vibes there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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