How bear communities redefine beauty by challenging gay body standards
GCN Issue 378 by James O’Hagan about being overweight and how fat people get viewed, condemned, anathematised and ridiculed both within and outside the LGBTQ+ community.
The fact seems to be that there are really only two mortal sins in modern society, particularly in gay society: getting fat and getting old.
To some extent the two run parallel. However, all is not necessarily lost; if you go to a ‘Bear’ club or pub you will see evidence of these parallel worlds working together, except that it’s in a very positive light.
There, conventional gay beauty and body standards are challenged, providing an empowering space for members of the community.You may well ask, “What on earth is a Bear club?” Well, it is a queer club that the larger, hairier men, and their admirers, frequent.
