A Decade Later... A New Hope... 

It was in 2009 when the concept for BearCubHouse.com came about, when myself and my boyfriend at the time were getting increasingly bothered by how many felt that the websites that served the bear community were growing the divides that the brotherhood intended to not engage in.

In 2010 we launched, and for about two years we operated a social media network that focused on inclusivity regardless of size or race. We sold T-shirts and bear pride merchandise. We gave many of you a home that you felt you didn’t have in other parts of our community.

Even after the run of BearCubHouse, I continued my work personally to end adversity and restore unity within the bear community through volunteering, representation, and helping others. However, there remains a void when the available sites to interact with the community continue to provide negative experiences, make people feel a lack of identity, being told they don't belong, insecurities weaponized, and straight up racism or transphobia wrapped into "preferences"  .

Commercialization brought bears into the mainstream, but at a cost. Our local bars often cater to bears that are a certain type of body shape and size. They have kept the parts of the bear community they liked but then turned the rest into a beauty contest and seemingly all the advertising is the same. Clothing brands that claim to represent our community don’t go beyond 2XL which really seems like an XL at best.

Certainly, there has been some progress and the voices for inclusivity have gotten louder. As someone who found comfort in their identity in the community, I want to ensure that it is there for the next generation, and to heal the divides that still exist. Our community still has its share of transphobia, racism, fatphobia, and other derogatory messes as does the mainstream gay community, which is ironic for a community intended to buck the mold. It’s time we clean our spaces of those negative behaviors and exclusions.

So, now in 2020 from my home in Chicago, I’m going to bring BearCubHouse.com back. What that will look like, I am not immediately sure, but I want it to be a voice of body positivity, unity, self-acceptance, and a safe space for those who believe in the core ideals of the bear community regardless of gender, race, presentation, or actual sexual preferences.

It’s time we become a community again. Feel free to follow our updates on our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/bearcubhouse/

I hope you’ll join us.

With You,

Chris - BCH Webmaster