by Joe Siegel

With many LGBTQ publications ceasing publication, it’s notable when one rises from the ashes. But that’s just what has happened with Bear Magazine.

The publication is aimed at gay and bisexual men who are or admire “bears,” stocky or heavyset men with facial and/or body hair. The publication was founded in 1987 by Richard Bulger and his partner Chris Nelson and was marketed to the bear community within the larger LGBTQ community.

The magazine underwent some ownership changes through the years. The previous incarnation of Bear disappeared in 2023. This September, however, it will return to newsstands from coast to coast, as well as internationally. It will be published quarterly and will be 100-plus pages.

“It’s going to look to honor the original [magazine],” said Richard Jones, who became owner and publisher in 2024. “It will have erotic content of naked bears, it will have personal ads, and features of people working in the bear community. There’s a large team of bears creating it. We will be using no AI photography [in the magazine]. We’re encouraging our advertisers not to use any AI photography of bears.”

Jones previously founded and published Bear World Magazine

Jones said Bear will have a website and there will be original content, including a bear event calendar. But he expressed frustration with the way the LGBTQ community has been treated by social media platforms.

“Regardless of whether it’s erotic content, the queer community is being harassed off of all the platforms. They don’t even tell you what you’ve done wrong. This is a way to draw a line in the sand. Let’s own our own media, let’s present our community for and by the community in our own way that can not be ad blocked, that cannot be deleted, that cannot be removed. Once you own it, it’s yours for life.”

Jones plans to travel to various bear events to promote the magazine, and he insists that BEAR is “not a porn mag.”

“We’re not showing sexual intercourse. We will be showing naked individual bears. We’re fully compliant with all the rules and regulations for erotic photography,” he said.

For readers who don’t live in a major city, they can obtain BEAR by mail. “People can subscribe and it will be sent to them in discreet packaging,” Jones noted. “It becomes a treasure. Something to own and love.” International shipping is also available in 14 countries, including Canada, the U.K. and Australia.

In a press release, Jones said, “It’s truly an honor to be the latest custodian of this iconic brand. We’re at a point where everything is digital, and I think people are craving something physical again — a magazine you can actually hold, keep, put on your coffee table. That’s part of why print felt right for this relaunch, not just nostalgia. Our community has always valued that kind of connection, so it made sense to bring Bear back in a form people can touch. I can’t wait for bears all around the world to hold a copy in their hands. The Bear is back!”

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Volume 28
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