Meet the Portugese Bear known simply as “Berto”
He is Berto, born in northern Portugal (European Union). He is a teddy bear, born and living in Oporto, partnered with an open relationship with a bear younger than 20 years.
He studied at the local university and holds a PhD in Sociology, a Master’s in American Studies, and two degrees in Literature and Languages. He loves Spain, their neighbours, and his own country, Portugal.
He grew up under strict catholic control, but it didn’t damage him. He even concluded that it protected him in a way.
Luka Musicki (L.M.): Welcome, Berto, to the interview. How are you feeling about the interview?
Berto (B): I’m feeling OK, a little concerned with the foreign affairs overseas. Forgetting that, I can even know how to say “Good day, digger!”, and I know many things about Australia and New Zealand.
L.M.: Haha, very nice to learn about different customs, like in Australia, with our abbreviations. What was it like growing up in Porto, Portugal? When did you come out as part of the queer community and then into the bear community?
B: I don’t have that sense of coming out. I travelled a lot, and it did happen in Lisbon on 18th August 1983, the first sexual experience. In fact, in Lisbon, there were already bears, but I did not know that they called themselves bears. In fact, it was in Madrid in 2001, the latter.
L.M.: You do a lot of posting to showcase your fabulous fit, bear body. How have you developed this confidence in front of the camera in an ‘older age’? Do you think about how to angle the camera and yourself when the picture is going to be taken?
B: Absolutely not. No angle, no filters, no nothing..I just love photos more than videos, and I’ve always felt in ‘’love’’ with a cam, and I don’t care about my age or physical situation…And the worst is that men feed my ego… maybe too much…That’s the secret, they feed me in a way. I’m shy in a way, but it’s easy to pose…or to be naked on a nudist beach. I reaffirm that I’m kind of shy, but it’s easy to pose and post.I have no one to look at me directly….
L.M.: Porto has Bears Cave bar near the Infante Bridge as one of its key bear venues — is that part of your regular scene, and what’s the Porto bear community actually like day-to-day?
B: It never had too much, and especially too open. We don’t ‘’love’’ each others a lot…only when we are outside the country..Lisbon and the south have much more bears’ beef… we do have a lot of bars, one supposed to be the most beautiful LGTBI bar in Europe, Café Lusitano, but the trend in Oporto is more gay fashion than bears scenery..We do have beautiful ones, but they are…married! They go to saunas, beaches, not to bars or discos…
L.M.: Your surname “Oporto” suggests a deep connection to Porto — is that a chosen identity, a nickname, or something more literal?
B: All together, in fact.
L.M.: What does being a bear mean to you specifically — is it physical, cultural, communal, or all three?
B: It’s a religion, and plus all together what you’ve just said.
L.M.: What’s the best thing about the bear community in Portugal right now, and what needs to improve?
B: We are not many; the married men not labelled are the best, and in fact, the Lisbon area concentrates the majority of them. Generally, we all go to Madrid…
L.M.: If you could show a visiting bear the real Porto — not the tourist version — where would you take them?
B: To the beaches and villages around the metropolitan area, Esmoriz, Braga, Aveiro, Viana, but for sure I’d take him to Ribeira near the river Douro downtown Oporto.
L.M.: What do you do in your spare time? travelling? Any hobbies?
B: Sex Pills and rock’n roll, beach all the time, and Spain…read, dance, write books
L.M.: Is there any advice that you would give someone (like a bear) who would be interested in doing public service work and sociology, and what is involved?
B: Yes! You won’t be rich, and sometimes it’s a hard job!
L.M.: What are your career goals for the future?
B: More books to write, stay with the same baby, more holidays, a home in Southern Spain, more sex, peace.
L.M.: Is there anything else that you would like to add in that I have missed?
B: I love Australia and Perth must be unique to live…away from the….world!!!
L.M.: And there you go, readers, Perth (and Australia getting some love from the bear in Portugal). Now it is time for the quick-fire questions to wrap up the interview.
- Location: Oporto, Portugal
- Pronouns: Just a man…. he/him/his
- Relationship status: open relationship…but full of love…
- Favourite Drink: freezing cool French Champagne
- What type of guy are you into? Bears and Daddies
- Favourite Cities/Vacation Spots: Madrid, Southern Spain, Southern Oporto beaches
- Favourite Hobby or Pastime: dance, read, write, sex, beach, music
- Idea of a good date? Good food, nice posh restaurant, but it can also be a popular bodega (wine cellar)
- What do you look for in a guy? Friendship, companion, TRUST, sex..but this it comes and goes
- Where can you find yourself?
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