Some Essential Links

Some time soon, we’ll break this out into more specific sub-sections, and/or more organization. For now, we’re capturing some links.

Also a section on Bear-Sona — bears of note. Who are we missing?

Mini-Table-of-contents of what’s on this page:

• Regional Links
• Bear-sona (Bear persona)
• Bears documentary

Also see our: Bibliography page.

• Our website: www.bearhistory.org
• Wikipedia: Bear (gay culture) page
• BHPI Facebook page (group is private, for now: ask to join!)
• Our Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/bearhistoryproject/
• Our merchandise store! https://www.cafepress.com/shop/BHPI/products?designId=136116998
• Our YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/@BHPI-b5q

• Cornell gay archives: Les built. Includes approximately 75 boxes of materials: correspondence, bear run/conference materials, reviews, and so on.
  • Descriptive Summary
  • Container/Box list
• LA&M. The Leather Archives & Museum. https://leatherarchives.org/ (Our archiving partner)
• International Mr. Leather
• GLBT Historical Society, HQed in San Francisco, California, USA. Great resource for queer/ gay artifacts and history. glbthistory.org .
  • https://www.glbthistory.org/beartoonist
• Bear World Magazine
  • Current article, about the BHPI
  • 2024 Award recipients, including Bear World Magazine Icon Award Honoree, our own Les! (Starts at 1:09.10) https://bearworldmag.com/bear-world-magazine-awards-2024-winners-revealed/
• Rainbow Quest game: (“Towards a Better World for Everyone”) Brian Kaufman.
  • Website: https://rainbowquest.org/ 
  • Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RainbowQuestgame/
  • Rainbow Quest game night, 15 February 2022: https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=467120928235207
• “Bear events not to miss in 2022” https://www.gaytravel4u.com/bear-events-not-to-miss?fbclid=IwAR0UFDlv61v7QhmPnEZhvePadsxU6z_3fsZH66KLNGt9W0yq7d0WCQWgHic
• Chiron Rising Archives (adult content magazine covers, NSFW) https://chironrisingarchive.home.blog/
  • “Chiron Rising started as the Swan magazine in the 1980s and was a magazine for the gay mature community.
• Gay Bear: Taimi wiki. “Great crash course in bears.” https://taimi.com/wiki/gay-bear-what-is-it-what-does-it-mean
• Gay & Lesbian Review: Article by Jeff Mann: “Bear Culture 101.” https://glreview.org/article/bear-culture-101-no-prerequisite/
• Known LGBTQ Archives in the US, as of September 2023 (courtesy GLBT Historical Society, last edited May 2023, PDF)
  • You can compare it as the playboy among gay mature men magazines contained profiles and photographies of older men and their admirers, also novels, fictions, artwork and articles about gay life.
    
• “Bears” work-in-progress screening, in development, under Andy Langdon.
  • GoFundMe link: https://gofund.me/eb002ea4a
  • Andy, on Facebook: (FaceBook)
  • ”Sizzle Reel” 6-minute version ( https://www.kollaborate.tv/link?id=6938d569cce1a , Password: r8k91q5v)
  • Overview: https://www.goodpictures.co/bears-documentary
  • If you’d like to host a private fundraiser screening, please let them know using the BEARS interest form on that page, and they’ll be happy to help you get set up: https://www.goodpictures.co/bears-documentary
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bearsdoc/
• Bear Studies Symposium
  • “Dear friends,
  • We have finally managed to edit and upload the recording of the Bear Studies Symposium from last month! You can find the recording on YouTube, at https://youtu.be/YoXnSAzBPUA?si=zRqFK2js1srXPHFL. The recording includes the introduction, the conclusion, and the three presentations – but not the questions or discussion. Whether or not you managed to join us in person, I hope that you will find the presentations interesting and useful.
  • Ale and I want to build on the momentum of the Bear Studies Symposium. So, we have also prepared a new Bear Research Network (BRN) on Google Groups. This group is for the sharing of scientific or scholarly literature, planning of research projects, organisations of research events, and discussion of methodologies regarding Bears. We would like to invite any scholars or researchers (professional, community-based or independent), academics, or students who are interested in sharing and developing research on Bears. You can request to join at https://groups.google.com/g/bear-research-network. We encourage those joining to make a post introducing themselves and their research interests.
  • Thank you once again for your interest in the Bear Studies Symposium 
  • All the best,
  • Nick “
• BearCity: www.bearcity.com
  
• Where The Bears Are:
  • From Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Where_the_Bears_Are : “Where the Bears Are is a comedy-mystery web series that ran for seven seasons from August 1, 2012, to November 1, 2018.^[1] The series’ creators and writers Rick Copp and Ben Zook star in the series together with Joe Dietl.^[2]“
  • https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2298250/
  • Also Joe is one of the primary Bears from the series, Highlight Reel for: Joe Dietl also see DietlArt.com .
  • https://wherethebearsare.tv/
  • ABigGayHairyHit.com , documentary about the series.
• BearPad.ART : Patrick and Jordan
  • www.BearPad.ART
  • TikTok : @bearpadart . ( https://www.tiktok.com/@bearpadart )
  • https://www.instagram.com/bearpadart/
  • Twitter: @bearpadart ( https://x.com/bearpadart )
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bearpadshop
  • The Highlight Reel on our YouTube channel: ( https://youtu.be/jqd90COca-0 )

• Bear Your Soul, 2023: https://leskwright.com/2023/09/07/bear-your-soul-celebrates-ten-years/

[1][2]

Today it is a historical witness of the gay young/old/mature community from the pre internet era until the beginning of the digital century in the early 2000s.”

• “I am (Not) a Gay Bear” article by M.J. Murphy, Professor of Gender & Sexuality Studies, U of Ill. Springfield. 17 Feb 20198 https://emjaymurphee.medium.com/i-am-not-a-bear-3854127b481c
• Gay camp ground in NE Pennsylvania that does bear events. https://oneidaresort.com
• The Lavender Effect “Join the Movement Advancing the Future of LGBTQ+ Heritage & Culture”, curated by BHPI’s own Andy Sacher.
  • (PRIDE Festival traveling exhibit 2023: https://thelavendereffect.org/pride2023/ )
• Bears In Excess “Bears in Excess is an event that started in April of 2012. The main purpose of the event is so bears, cubs, daddies, chubs, and their admirers who live in the Greater Toronto Area or the many visitors to our lovely city, can go to have some fun in a spa-like setting.”, Toronto: https://bearsinexcess.com/
• BHPI member, Diniz Sanchez, Mr. Lisbon Bear Pride 2023, article from July 2023: https://bearworldmag.com/meet-diniz-sanchez-mr-lisbon-bear-pride-2023/?fbclid=IwAR2KdDTd1SWM7hk1u7QI_wrwSrN7wiC2usha9EK9VgrxBb5osdRCfzs1Rpk

Bear-sona (Persona-specific links)

• Benjamin Koll
  • BHPI Interview: Ben Koll
    Les and Phil did a spirited interview with Ben, for our Stories and Podcasts pages. For now, here are some essential links to his online content:
    • The Highlight Reel of that interview: https://youtu.be/wAPSgCHjVl4
  • https://www.google.com/search?gs_ssp=eJzj4tVP1zc0TM5NyypIKU42YPTiTUrNy0rMzcxTyM7PyQEAlhIKJw&q=benjamin+koll&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS945US945&oq=benjamin+koll&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBwgBEC4YgAQyCggAEAAY4wIYgAQyBwgBEC4YgAQyBwgCEC4YgAQyDQgDEC4YrwEYxwEYgAQyBwgEEAAYgAQyCQgFEC4YChiABDIHCAYQABiABDIHCAcQABiABDINCAgQABiGAxiABBiKBTINCAkQABiGAxiABBiKBdIBCTg1NTlqMGoxNagCCLACAQ&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
  • https://www.benjaminkoll.com/
  • https://www.benjaminkoll.com/benjamin-koll-his-biography-and-team.html 
  • https://www.instagram.com/benjaminkollmusic/?hl=en
  • https://www.instagram.com/p/C82uQRFSeHB/?hl=en 
  • https://music.apple.com/us/album/8-days-in-a-bears-life/1699457981 
  • https://bearworldmag.com/benjamin-koll-releases-two-sexy-videos-for-his-new-single-osito/ 
  • https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdF2ppn9S1zoMUtuHHd0VlA 
  • Songs 
    • Osito
    • New song for new album: sex with your best friend
    • Living on my own (bullying)
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/benjaminkollofficial
  • https://open.spotify.com/artist/48SSplnFdA3EFWUHAdjSkl 

• Eric Major
  • His Highlight Reel from our BHPI interview.
  • His MSNBC Interview
  • Summer Fun! 2025: Bigger Vegas 2025
    • 
• Bears in Excess and Chubs at the Tubs are thrilled to announce our partnership with Bigger Vegas, happening from July 1st to July 8th! This incredible event is renowned as one of the world’s largest social gatherings for gay men of size and their admirers.
  • Join us for a fun-filled multi-day celebration dedicated to the Chub and Bear communities. Expect lively activities, social events, and opportunities to connect with like-minded individuals in a welcoming atmosphere.
  • Mark your calendars, pack your bags, and get ready for an unforgettable experience in Las Vegas!
• Hunter Harden
  • The Highlight Reel of his BHPI Interview, on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/zIvPwbs2vn8
  • Instagram: instagram.com/hunterharden
• IML (2025 – 2026), Rene Hebert
  • Our interview with him:
    • Highlight Reel: https://youtu.be/A-_vdRTqxs0
    • Full Interview: Releasing shortly!
  • Article over in Bear World Magazine: https://bearworldmag.com/we-meet-rene-hebert-your-new-mr-iml/
  • Some eye candy: see his Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rene_jacque_strappe/
  • TikTok: @BuckHarder : https://www.tiktok.com/@buckharder
    
• Joe Dietl : see Where The Bears Are above
• Larry Flick:
  • His Highlight Reel on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/-mw8uvpjLAw
  • His Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/larry_flick/?hl=en
  • More about ACT-UP: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ACT_UP
  • X/Twitter: https://x.com/larryflick
• Tomas Hemstad
  • See his Highlight Reel of his recent BHPI Interview
  • Queer article: out in the next week or two (“Swedish union newspaper Arbetet about erasure of queer history (the rewriting of Stonewall, etc), and wanted to bring up some positive counter example”)
  • Gay widow support group (“2. I organize a queer widow(er) group that meets in physical reality in San Francisco (at this point, all gay men), so if you encounter anyone being in that situation around the Bay Area do feel free to have them contact me in any way. It can be hard to make those connections organically, but it’s been my experience that a lot of people need to meet others in the same situation. “)
  • Get to him for your DJ needs!
• Charlie Hunter, London-based artist
  • Co-creator of Loved: artist: Mike Wyeld
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uk.loved.collective/
  • http://www.loved.gallery
  • Highlight Reel on our BHPI YouTube page [coming soon!]
• Chris Komater, author and photographer
  • Chris’s book: see our Bibliography page for details.
  • Highlight Reel of our interview with Chris, from our YouTube channel
  • His website: ChrisKomater.com

Regional Links

• Australia
  • Sydney
    • Harbor City Bears:
      • Their website:
        • https://hcbears.com.au
        • Their list of other Australia state groups: https://hcbears.com.au/kindred?
    • Their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/harbourcitybears
• Chicago, IL, USA area:
  • International Mr. Leather contest
  • Leather Archives & Museum
• Malaysia
  • Bear International Malaysia 2026
    • Heats: 2 and 9 Jan 2026
    • Semi Finals: 16 Jan 2026
    • Finals: 30 Jan 2026
    • Follow them, see QR code, and: URL: tinyurl.com/mrbear-my-2026
    • 
• New Zealand (“Aotearoa”*)
  • Bear New Zealand
    • https://www.bearnewzealand.co.nz/
    • https://www.facebook.com/groups/bearnz
    • “The Bear New Zealand group was formed in 2008 as an easy going social group for men who identified as Bears, Cubs etc or just enjoyed the company of like-minded guys.
      The loosely-organised Bear group is a fun and inclusive community and a great way to keep in touch with furry friends and maybe meet some new ones.
      We have movie nights, BBQ’s, theatre trips and more throughout the year but our Bear New Zealand Week is the major date in our calendar.
      Starting in 2010, our successful Bear New Zealand Weeks have put Auckland on the international bear event map.”
  • Wellington (Wellington Bears – created in 27 August, 2008), as well as:
  • Christchurch (Bears Christchurch – founded in 31 July, 2010).
  • Mr. Bear New Zealand
    • Bear New Zealand Weeks
    • You can also listen to the interview with our 2025 winner for ‘Mr Bear New Zealand 2025’, Luke Bird here: https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/nights/audio/2018974298/mr-bear-new-zealand-2025-crowned
  • Mr. Australian Bear
    • We have our very own ‘Mr. Bear New Zealand’ title which is organised during the Bear New Zealand Week. The winner will then represent New Zealand in the ‘Mr. Australasia Bear’ competition that is held during the Southern HiBearnation festival (run by Vicbears – https://vicbears.org.au/Mr-Australasia-Bear) in Australia.
      Our very own 2024 winner of ‘Mr. Australasia Bear’, Tia Craig Walters (aka Tiabear), carried on to participate in the ‘Mister Bear International’ competition, held recently this year (2025), in Bangkok, Thailand.
      • https://www.facebook.com/mrbearinternationalnewzealand/
      • https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360658204/kiwi-mr-bear-places-top-10-international-pageant-thailand
      • https://www.instagram.com/mr.bearbangkok/
  • (*Also, ‘Aotearoa’ is the indigenous Māori name for New Zealand – you will find we refer to ourselves nowadays as being in ‘Aotearoa New Zealand’ (an effort to recognise the indigenous culture and to address socio-cultural equity); this goes the same with recognising Auckland as ‘Tāmaki Makaurau’).
• Estonia:
  • bearty.info
    • “We are a small non-profit NGO, whose aim is to bring awareness to the public of LGBTQ issues of equality and acceptance by breaking stereotypes built by societies during past half a century.”
  • Want some facts about Estonian, phrases and people? https://ceus.indiana.edu/about/languages/estonian.html#:~:text=Estonian%2C%20different%20from%20most%20spoken,together%20with%20Finnish%20and%20Hungarian.
  • Highlight Reel from Estonian bears: coming soon!
  • Tallinn Bear Party 2025
• Maryland, USA
  • Bears of Maryland:
    • Facebook page:
      • https://www.facebook.com/groups/BearsofMaryland
      • ( https://www.facebook.com/groups/103383139771623 )
    • BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/bearsofmaryland.bsky.social
• Norway:
  • Interviews with John Earhart:
    • https://skeivtarkiv.no/john-earhart-fodt-1949
      • (John Earhart interview with Norwegian Gay Archives — in Norwegian
      • There should be a Google translate option, for English)
    • John’s interview with BHPI, Highlight Reel: https://youtu.be/-rEbIy4_xtE
  • Norway Bear Club:
    • https://www.norwaybears.com/en/
    • Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/NorwayBears
  • Norwegian Gay Archives: https://skeivtarkiv.no/en
  • A bit about Oslo, and Norway: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oslo
    
• NY State: Syracuse, NY, USA and area: and Rochester, NY
  • Bear-A-Cuse Bears: https://www.facebook.com/groups/414091156678047/
  • Highlight Reel, interview with Brad Porceng
  • https://www.facebook.com/RocLGBTQTogether/
  • Highlight Reel for RainbowCammo ( #SoapDaddy)
• Rehoboth Beach Bears, DE, USA
  • https://www.facebook.com/groups/RehobothBeachBears/
  • 2025: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1157993566037078&set=a.624357002734073
• San Francisco Bay Area, CA, USA:
  • Bearrison Street Fair
    • See: https://www.facebook.com/Bearrison
    • https://www.bearrison.org/ 
    • https://www.instagram.com/bearrisonsf/?hl=en 
  • San Francisco Eagle Tavern
    • https://sf-eagle.com/
    • 398 12 Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
    • Upcoming BHPI Beer Bust dates: 5-6 volunteers needed! Confirmed SF Eagle Beverage Benefits (Beer Busts) dates are 11/23/25 and 12/14/25. See our dedicated page for details and pics!
  • Ruth’s Table:
    • ruthstable.org
    • This is a group we might work with in the near future. Inter-generational communication, kink, community.
    • “Ruth’s Table is a Front Porch program committed to increasing access to creative opportunities for older adults and adults with disabilities, providing an inclusive and inspiring environment for creative expression and meaningful connections.
    • With intergenerational exchange at the core of our mission, Ruth’s Table offers a dynamic combination of rotating gallery exhibitions, creative programming, and community initiatives.”
    • 3160 21st Street
      ​San Francisco, CA 94110
      415.642.1000
      [email protected]
• World events:
  • World Pride: “From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
    
    WorldPride
    The New York City Subway system commemorated Stonewall 50 – WorldPride NYC 2019 with heart-shaped rainbow logos representing LGBTQ pride, celebrating the largest LGBTQ event in history, with five million attendants in Manhattan for Pride weekend alone.
    Inaugurated
    July 1–9, 2000 in Rome, Italy
    Previous event
    February 17 – March 5, 2023 in Sydney, Australia
    Next event
    May 29 – June 8, 2025 in Washington, D.C., United States
    Organized by
    InterPride WorldPride is a series of international LGBT pride events coordinated by InterPride; they are hosted in conjunction with local LGBT pride festivals, with host cities selected via bids voted on during InterPride’s annual general meetings. Its core events include opening and closing ceremonies, a pride parade (which may either be the host city’s existing pride parade, or a bespoke event organized specifically for WorldPride), and an LGBT human rights conference.^[2]
    The inaugural WorldPride was held in Rome in 2000.^[3][4][5][6] In 2019, it was estimated that Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras—host of WorldPride 2023—would have a 25–40% increase in attendance over normal years, and contribute over AU$664 million to the local economy.^[7][2] Due to its scale and the bidding process, WorldPride was colloquially referred to as “the gay Olympics” by Australian media outlets.”
    • World Pride DC, and World Leather and Bear Pride
      • (Photo: June 2025, courtesy Les )
      • (World Pride DC Leather Contingent, Thank you for your participation, Picture taken by Travis Hughes)
    • World Pride 2026, Amsterdam

Adjacent / brother / sister / sibling organizations communities:

• Bear Week Provincetown (P’Town) see: https://ptown.org/calendars/bears/ www.ptownbears.events or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptownbears .
• [RFD] Radical Fairies, Radical Fairies Digest http://rfdmag.org/
• Bears Bulletin Board PDX (private group) https://www.facebook.com/groups/1415110525416141/ from BHPI member Joshua Lewis
• Santa Bear & Friends: (private group) https://www.facebook.com/groups/1534385836883060/ from BHPI member Joshua Lewis.
• “Bring on Bears and Asians (BOBA)” : https://www.facebook.com/groups/1633916313698386/
• Bear Your Soul “Bear Your Soul is a movement of men that grew out of events at Easton Mountain“
  • YouTube channel
  • Bearapalooza The Movie
• Rehoboth Beach Bears:
  • History: https://www.rehobothbeachbears.com/history/
  • Weekend: https://www.rehobothbeachbears.com/registration/
• Body Electric
• Global Bears: fast-growing Facebook group:
  • https://www.facebook.com/groups/1412678667228526
  • “A group designed for all bears & admirers from all over the world. Feel free to share your selfies & favourite moments, but please remember to keep it SFW.”