Meet James Martin, Mr. BearScots 2024

23rd October 2024 BWM Staff

BearScots hosted another sold out event from October 3 to 6 in Edinburgh. In addition to the normal pub nights, tea dances and social activities, the Scottish bears elected the new Mr. BearScots 2024, James Martin. Originally from Fife, James now resides in Glasgow and works as a Recruitment Account Manager. Lear more about him below.

BWM: What drew you to the bear community?

James Martin (JM): I came out pretty late in life and it was during Covid, quite a lonely time to come out! I moved to a new city and I heard about a Bear Social being run. I looked them up online and seen the pictures and couldn’t believe all the different shapes and sizes of people having fun and laughing. I wasn’t confident with my own body and thought this would be a place where I can fit in.

BWM: Tell us about your local bear scene and some of your favorite places to hang out or organizations whose events you enjoy.

JM: Scotland as a whole has quite a small scene. I really enjoy the Bear Socials held in Edinburgh and Glasgow. These are also run by Bearscots in addition to their annual event.

BWM: How was your experience competing? What was the process like? What was your favorite part?

JM: I was very nervous about competing and it was a few of my friends that encouraged me to enter. Its a fun competition to enter and it’s more about entertaining the bears for the weekend and having fun. We had to complete a few questions and send in a picture of ourselves. We were then whittled down to six and over the weekend we interacted with everyone at the events. On the Sunday there was a finale show and here we were interviewed on stage by a local drag queen. The questions were funny- for example – what turns you on or share a saucy secret. We also had to do a talent on stage. I chose my talent as talking crap (comedy). We then ripped our vest off. The crowd then had tokens to vote for us and the winner was announced.

BWM: What does it mean to you to be Mr BearScots? Can you tell us about your experience at the event overall? What were some highlights?

JM: It means a lot to me as I said I don’t have the best confidence, and the win has definitely boosted my confidence. The whole event was a very fun and amazing weekend. I really enjoyed the dressing up this year as the theme was “on the farm”. The show on Sunday is always a highlight and the entertainment is always amazing. On the Saturday night it’s Kilts and harnesses and to end that night off we get to devour scotch pies and macaroni pies!

BWM: What are the responsibilities associated with your title?

JM: My responsibility is to help promote inclusion in our community and to welcome people to our events and invite people along.

BWM: What are your goals for your title year? Where will you be appearing?

JM: My goal is to promote that no one has to be alone and that there’s a community here that won’t judge you and that you can have fun with. I will be at most of the Bear Socials in Glasgow and Edinburgh which run on the 1st Saturday and 2nd Saturday of the month. I will be at Bear Bash in Manchester (May) and Bear Carnival in Gran Canaria (April). I will also attend the new half year Bearscots West event in Glasgow (May). I hopefully can make some other events too!

BWM: What are some important issues you feel that need to be addressed in the bear community?

JM: I think a main one is that in the aftermath of Covid a lot of people have developed social anxiety and it is causing so many of us to be depressed on account of missing that interaction with other humans.