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Gay

6 Things the Larger Gay Community Can Learn From Bears

Bears offer more than their many woofs.

Zachary Zane

Zachary Zane is a writer, YouTube influencer, and activist whose work focuses on (bi)sexuality, gender, dating, relationships, and identity politics. Check out his YouTube channel here.

Read Full Bio

Zachary Zane

ZacharyZane_

September 08 2016 1:39 PM EST

December 09 2022 9:12 AM EST

Photo: Instagram (@pedrao_gyn)

Bears (WOOF!) are an integral subset of the larger gay community. Not only are they sexy beasts, they represent a segment of gay culture that deviates from the mainstream, homonormative standard. Because of this, there are definitely a few things that the larger gay community can (and should!) learn from bears. Like...

1. Body positivity

A photo posted by Mirek Ridky ♈️ (@rydmir84) on Sep 6, 2016 at 10:18pm PDT

Bears care less about six packs and embrace the natural curves of their bodies. Most bears aren’t concerned with homonormative standards of beauty, and are actively trying to defy said standards.

2. Natural hair = sexy

A photo posted by gay. bear. qualities. (@bearquality) on Nov 5, 2015 at 2:06am PST

Bears don’t shave anything, letting it all grow out naturally. It’s part of the masculine, natural aesthetic considered desirable by bears.

3. Sex-positivity

A photo posted by THE BEAR MAG (@thebearmag) on Sep 7, 2016 at 2:04am PDT

Bears are staunchly sex-positive, often self-identifying as pigs as well as bears, and are not in the business of slut-shaming.

4. Leather is more than about looks

A photo posted by gay. bear. qualities. (@bearquality) on Nov 13, 2015 at 5:04am PST

Bears understand that there is a greater appeal to leather than aesthetics. Something happens to you the moment you put on your first leather harness, and you become part of the leather community.