Synopsis

While the LGBT community has long had to struggle with stereotyping by outsiders, gay men also have to deal with widely held perceptions from their peers that they're supposed to fit a certain image - men who are stylish, carefully groomed, trim and to a certain degree effeminate. But not all gay men fit this profile, and this has led in part to the rise of "Bears" - gay men who are stocky, hirsute, outwardly masculine and proud of it. As gay culture has moved closer to the mainstream, Bears have come out of the closet (or the woods) and become one of the more visible and active subcultures within the LGBT community. In BEAR NATION, filmmaker Malcolm Ingram (Small Town Gay Bar), takes you on a fascinating journey inside a fast growing segment of the gay community where what was once a perceived negative is now redefining the definition of what it looks like to be gay. This award winning documentary includes interviews with rock legend Bob Mould (Hüsker Dü, Sugar), filmmaker Kevin Smith (Red State), who has become a Bear icon despite being married and straight and more!

Educational Reviews

"...the question of whether a slight, clean-shaven guy can also be a bear brings up issues related to LGBT inclusion, marginalization, bigotry, and definitions of 'queerness.'" Video Librarian

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