There is ongoing debate in bear communities about what constitutes a bear. The bear concept can function as an identity, an affiliation, and an ideal to live up to. Bears tend to have hairy bodies and facial hair some are heavy-set some project an image of working-class masculinity in their grooming and appearance, though none of these are requirements or unique indicators.
Bear is an affectionate gay slang term for those in the bear communities, a subculture in the gay community and an emerging subset of the LGBT community with its own events, codes, and a culture-specific identity.
