Bear is a subcultural term used primarily by gay men, referring to a subset of men who embrace and subvert traditional masculinity and defy the stereotypes typically applied to gay men, who are usually seen as feminine due to their attraction to men. Bears may be defined by physical appearance, tastes, expression of traditionally gendered traits, or personal affiliation.
The generic image of a bear is a larger man with a hairy body, usually having facial hair and dressing in a typically masculine way. Bears tend to project the aesthetics of working-class manhood in their choices of self-expression, particularly through their personal grooming and appearance.
 
The Bear Brotherhood Pride Flag consists of seven stripes in various shades of brown and gold, with a bear’s pawprint in black in the upper left quadrant. The colours are designed to reflect different real-world species of bears and thus celebrate the diversity of men encompassed in the bear community, emphasizing its origins as the other side of the exclusive urban gay culture.
It was designed in 1995 by Craig Byrnes, who had spent extensive time producing a project about the bear community and wanted a flag to include in his research. After creating four prototypes, he attended a local Chesapeake Bay Bears event and asked attendees to vote for their favourite design, determining the design of the International Bear Brotherhood Flag still in use.
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bear_flag_(gay_culture)
 
 
Disclaimer: Terms and labels within the community are largely adopted through self-identification, and their definition may not be agreed upon by all who identify with them. Descriptions provided here are an informal overview and are for informational purposes only. We cannot be held responsible for the contents or accuracy of any pages referenced by external links.