Meet Marcus Keys, World Cub 2024
Another World Bear Weekend is in the books and with it a new titleholder family has been selected. Marcus Keys is the newly named World Cub for 2024. Get to know more about him below.
BWM: Can you tell us a bit about your background?
Marcus Keys (MK): I go by Marcus Keys for my love for old keys. Master Keys and Skeleton Keys are sought after by occultists and magical practitioners to help open doors of opportunity and unlock the unconscious shackles that hold them back from obtaining their goals. I’ve presented on this topic at pagan conferences and classes for over a decade.
I am a second-generation Mexican American gay male, born, raised, and living in San Diego CA, about 20 minutes from the US/Mexico border. I’ve worked in social services for nearly 20 years with special populations including queer community, homeless individuals, and Latino/LatinX youth.
Before World Cub, I was the titleholder for San Diego Cub 2023 where I made many strides in creating community events bringing awareness of issues and raising money for local organizations. In my spare time, I have a pop-up booth at leather, kink, and bear events, selling handmade jewelry, candles, and other items.
BWM: What drew you to the bear community?
MK: I first encountered the bear community through house parties, not events at the bars and clubs. I met folks I’ve known personally and professionally for years, mostly daddies (grrr). Even though I was one of the younger guys attending the events, I felt safe, welcomed, and treated with respect. I didn’t feel ashamed to be chubby like in other places. Once I started to be a regular in my local leather scene, I learned more about how bears were closely involved in the kink community as well. I felt more empowered to wear leather and a harness. It was the fact that I always belonged for just being myself and not fitting some standard set by others that made me drawn to the community.
BWM: What made you want to compete for the title?
MK: As the former San Diego Cub 2023, my year was a lot of fun. I brought awareness to many issues, joined groups and events, and made a name for myself and the title amongst the community. There were times when I thought having this title wasn’t making an impact and some people thought I was a joke. We can throw events with hot go-go dancers or spend tons of money in order to raise money and have lots of pictures and videos taken showing what an awesome time we had; but it was the connections I made that encouraged me to continue the work I was doing.
Whether it was hot club nights with shirtless bears or events supporting local people as a counselor, someone always came to me when they needed someone to talk to. I became of service to the community even while wearing a sash or leather vest to help people process thoughts and feelings on issues they experienced.
The theme for San Diego Cub was “Different” and how being different can be a badge of honor instead of a mask to hide behind. That is what I wanted to take with me to World Bear Weekend. With the encouragement of my producer David James, I was accepted. I chose my outfits and made a costume, asked Mason Dickson (San Diego Cub 2021) to be my handler, I competed and met lots of new friends, and I won!
BWM: What defines a cub in your opinion?
MK: I always get this question from people, now that I’m a titleholder for all Cubs, no pressure. Bears and cubs are traditionally chubby and hairy, but representation doesn’t always look the same. I think folks can be a bear or cub even if they’re not matching those qualities. Not only that but cubs also support their community by attending events, spreading love and joy, and helping others feel welcome. Are you walking your talk? If we embrace ourselves in all our parts, good and bad, fat and thin, smart and stupid, etc. imagine all the things we can do.
BWM: Tell us about your platform. What was the issue you campaigned on or addressed during the competition?
MK: I mentioned in my speech the significance of keys and how we all hold the ones that are to the unconscious shackles we place on ourselves. We are the “Key Masters” of our own lives. I want to work on resilience within communities, carrying the theme of “different” and elevating it to help people build their awareness of issues and show them how they can help create change themselves.
BWM: Why is World Bear Weekend important to you?
MK: World Bear Weekend is important because it gives a chance to bears, cubs, and pets of all identities to come together on another level. I was a bit nervous meeting the class I competed with, but I was met with strong folks who were very welcoming and fun. I’m excited to see where the future of WBW goes from what I experienced this past year.
We get a chance to meet with communities outside our own on a national and global level. It would be nice to meet more bears and cubs who are from Latin countries and learn the language, style, practices, and more to see what brings us all together. Along with that, WBW is set to be a contender in setting policies and being a role model on the topics of accessibility, body empowerment, consent and safety, and recognition of other community members.
BWM: What are your goals for your title year? Where will you be appearing?
MK: My main goal is to make sure I can support WBW ‘25 and raise enough money so that I can travel. I plan on having at least one big event every few months while supporting other smaller community events and generating funds. With my small business, I can sell handmade items and use the funds for travel to local events and other communities at large.
As for appearances, I will be at the California events like Folsom Street Fair and Palm Springs Leather Pride and others, but I would like to go to Europe and attend one of their many bear events. Of course I also have to attend Texas Bear Roundup, North American Bear, World PRIDE, and other events with my title family, but it all depends on the funds I raise.
BWM: What are some important issues you feel that need to be addressed in the bear community?
MK: Visibility of the average and everyday bear and cub. I think there have been some great strides in bear representation, having bigger-bodied models in magazines and promotions, but businesses still have images of some hairy muscular Greek god looking guy to represent the bear culture. Other than the club promotions, you don’t see those people in the bear community or at any bear community events. They’re fitness models making a buck. I talked with a few models, and they get it, we want more bears to represent bear events, but producers aren’t biting with the bigger/average bears. My community has asked me to attend club events and to be on promos for leather events, but I know there are more folks out there who are big and beautiful, especially our bears of color.
BWM: Where can we find you? Websites? Social Media?
MK: I’m posting all of my events on Facebook under @marcus.keys.world.cub.2024. My website to buy merchandise will be published soon, but check out the IG page @cubandkey.
