James, my husbear, was telling me about this function at a bingo in Maryland. Evidently, if you brought a stuffed bear, the entry was free; then, the collected bears were donated to children in hospitals throughout the Baltimore-Washington area. Another thing that was kind of similar, is the FUK!T Packin' at a bar called the Green Lantern in Washington, D.C. Basically, bears get together on Tuesdays to assemble safe-sex kits which are later distributed for free in most of the bars in the area - this also provides a space where people can make friends and gossip happily.
Here is, I think, another way for bears to get together and bond in a non-sexual environment (since the condoms and lube you handle are not for your personal use anyway... At least at that moment); besides, I think this also helps the rest of the world see the gay community as something other than fags and queers with feather boas and sequins. It is a deed that not only helps people come together, but does good to the general public.
One or two years ago (maybe both), one of our only so-called bear bars had a thing where they asked people to donate stuffed bears to take to needy children. I never knew how that went but I think that, though the purpose might have been la good one, it didn't do much to strengthen the community or leave a mark in the society to show who we are.
Perhaps it would be a good idea for the people who manage these events to focus more on the members of the community to boost their participation (which would help their business anyway)... Or would a proposition from an individual hold more weight (no pun intended)? What do you think?
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