Bears Making History
Freshly home from IBR 13, today is a good time to pause and take note, as my impressions and experiences already begin drifting into memory.
Whoever, back in the 1980s, would have thought? What began as not much more than a night of hanging out with friends at the Lonestar, an evening of play at a Bear Hugs party, or picking up a copy of that funky, one-handed ‘zine full of personals ads, would grow into such a vast community, a global-sized community? Bears today are in instantaneous, and frequently constant, touch with each other. Bears have pioneered the Internet, built up a social network of clubs, interest groups, weekend events, bear bars, contests, and cruises, spanning the globe.
Today IBR is one stop – granted, a big one, and one of the longest running – on the international bear circuit. IBR and similar events are important, not just because they are times of celebrating the bear lifestyles. As the 21st-century bear circuit emerged, IBR was alive and well, with a long record of doing good works. For those who did not know, IBR’s primary purpose is as a charitable fund-raising event, the instrument through which the Bears of San Francisco provide charitable service to the communities of San Francisco, bear, GLBTQ, and others in need. (Check out their website for the current year’s worthy recipients.)
IBR continues a wonderful tradition of the bear community – having fun and being of service at the same time, all the while providing community space. We grow and prosper by such means.
Thank you to all those who volunteered to put on another successful, mammoth weekend. Thanks to all the members of the Bears of San Francisco, and to the BOSF’s hard-working leadership for your example, your vision, and your commitment to the bear community and the GLBTQ community as a whole. And, of course, thank you, San Francisco -- part sophisticated lady, part raucous Forty-Niner, part bearishly down-to-earth, openhearted, and unsated rover -- for your legendary hospitality.
On a related note, you read it here first. The Bear History Project is being restored to active status. After a three-year hiatus of the BHP history archives and related bear art and cultural work (under the Nashoba umbrella), this grassroots “bearstorian” is settling in back home in San Francisco and ready to answer the call. (Is that a phone in your pocket, or are you just glad to see me?)
In a mere five years, the bear community has grown and transformed exponentially. As we all venture forth in a much-changed 21st century, bears continue to forge the way. And often do it with a great deal of style and taste. As I said earlier, who knew?
It’s good to be back, and it’s good for the BHP to be in its new home in San Francisco.
Thank you!
Papa Bearstorian
(Les Wright)
Comments
Hello Papa Bearstorian,
It was nice to meet you at IBR.
Thank you for all the work you have done to document the Bear Culture that has evolved all over the globe.
Mike (co-publisher of A Bear's Life magazine)
Posted by: Mike | February 26, 2007 04:19 PM