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Bears of All Colors party celebrates diversity in the Bear community

Kyle Jackson

Bears of all colors started when artist Jay Light — known then as Music Bear Tony Banks — curated his own party during the Spooky Bear Halloween celebration in Provincetown, MA in 2015. Unhappy with the representation of bears of color in the bear community, he fought to make some changes. 

The following year he created The Bears of All Colors Bear Run. A 3 day event which took place in sunny Fort Lauderdale, FL. That following summer he returned to Provincetown for the first official Briefs and Bears party, hosted by the Underground Bar, and has continued the event every summer since. 

Unfortunately, Covid-19 postponed the summer fun but didn’t kill the vibes, and actually created an opportunity for a bigger, more inclusive, event. This year, the event is going virtual with 3 DJ’s, Go-Go Bears and stellar performances provided by artists from all over the US and Canada.

“It is so important that we get out of the mindset of what a bear should be and start believing that everyone, no matter their skin color, size, gender, or shape, has value in this community”, says Jay.  

“As a black bear and figure within the bear world, I’m happy that I can do my part to insure diversity in a world that talks about it, but has a hard time showing it and living up to the “bear values” of inclusivity and tight, cuddly hugs”

Bears Of All Colors: Bears and Briefs will take place on July 19th from 1:30pm to 5pm on Twitch and Zoom, and will feature DJ’s Beargazer, Insyx and Larry Peace. The event will also feature performances from Chris Conde, The Izm., Tafari Anthony, Paul Andrews, and Jay Light, and hot dance moves from Bear models Jey Oso, Luis Vega and more. 


Bears Of All Colors: Bears and Briefs has received partnering support from Bear Films, Bear World Magazine and Bears In Excess. Donations from the event will be going to the Ali Forney Center of NYC to help homeless Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning youth from the harms of homelessness and empower them with the tools needed to live independently.

For more information, visit facebook.com/bearsofallcolors.

Kyle Jackson

Kyle Jackson (He/Him) is Senior Staff Writer at Gray Jones Media, and additionally works as a writer, editor and theatre artist/actor. A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, he studied at Dillard University, received a BA in Theatre from Morgan State University, an MS in Arts Administration from Drexel University, and completed the British American Drama Academy’s Midsummer in Oxford Programme in 2017. Having lived in Baltimore, the Washington, DC area, Philadelphia and New York City, he now resides and works in London, United Kingdom.

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