Bear (Bear Brotherhood)

Bear culture is a community within gay, bisexual and queer men's spaces that celebrates larger, hairier, rugged-masculine bodies and a warm, welcoming social ethos.

Definition

Bear refers to a subculture and community, mainly within gay, bisexual and queer men's spaces, organised around an appreciation of larger body types, body and facial hair, and an easygoing, masculine but affectionate presentation. It is as much about belonging and body positivity as about looks.

Related terms describe different builds and roles, such as cub, otter, chub and daddy. Bear describes a community and aesthetic, not a sexual orientation or a gender identity.

Flag

Bear Brotherhood flag · Designer: Craig Byrnes · 1995

Seven earth-toned stripes with a black bear paw print in the upper-left canton. The colours reference the fur colours of bear species worldwide and the diversity of the community.

Stripe	HEX	RGB	CMYK	Pantone	Meaning
Dark brown	`#633800`	99,56,0	C:0 M:43 Y:100 K:61	n/a	Bear-brown fur
Rust	`#D76300`	215,99,0	C:0 M:54 Y:100 K:16	n/a	Cinnamon / orange fur
Golden	`#FFDE58`	255,222,88	C:0 M:13 Y:65 K:0	n/a	Golden fur
Tan	`#FFE7B5`	255,231,181	C:0 M:9 Y:29 K:0	n/a	Light fur
White	`#FFFFFF`	255,255,255	C:0 M:0 Y:0 K:0	n/a	Polar / light fur
Grey	`#555555`	85,85,85	C:0 M:0 Y:0 K:67	n/a	Grey fur
Black	`#000000`	0,0,0	C:0 M:0 Y:0 K:100	n/a	Black fur; the paw print

Full flag history →

History

The bear community took shape in the United States in the 1980s as an alternative to mainstream gay culture's focus on youthful, lean bodies. Craig Byrnes designed the International Bear Brotherhood flag in 1995 for a college project; its seven earth-toned stripes and paw print reference the fur colours of bears worldwide and the diversity of the community.