MTV's 'True Life' To Feature Gay Bears And 'Chubby Chasers'

Gay men are still stereotyped in mainstream media as gym bunnies -- and judging by the results of a recent British poll, nearly half would be willing to make significant sacrifices in pursuit of the perfect body.

Now, MTV is turning the spotlight onto a somewhat less-heralded subset of the community: gay bears and their self-proclaimed "chubby chaser" admirers.

The preview clip features 26-year-Justin, who says, "I'm not attracted to muscle, I'm attracted to mass." Though Justin fears his conservative parents dismiss his relationship with boyfriend Josh as merely a fetish, he goes on to note, "When I'm with a bear, I feel safe because of his size. I like feeling dwarfed by this individual –- a protector almost."

Check out the trailer for the episode, set to air Jan. 11.

Comments

[Evan Eisen]

02:24 PM on 01/11/2012

I understand loving to be dwarfed by someone's size. I love a big tall man that can pick me up and not struggle.

[Steamboater]

12:33 PM on 01/10/2012

Any of you guys ever get to San Francisco, check out The Lonestar bar south of Market,. It's a bear bar with some leather too. Always packed on weekends and with an outdoor patio. Very friendly place too.

[ChasingFateMD]

07:19 PM on 01/10/2012

If you ever head out to DC Steamboater look up the Bear Happy Hour held at Town on Friday evenings.

[Steamboater]

09:24 PM on 01/10/2012

Never been to D.C,. but may go for the IML event this year, unless it's already happened. It may be Chicago though. Will definitely be in Vegas this year though for the other event there.

[Steamboater]

12:19 PM on 01/10/2012

Different strokes. There's guys who like redheads only and white guys who like blacks or Asians and vice-versa. Guys who who like only short or tall guys, who like uncut or cut or beer-can or even very small. Hell, there's even some guys who get off on guys in leather. :) Straights are no different. They just don't talk about it much. It's all a fetish and who someone is attracted too, as long as it's not kids, is just fine--for them.

[NikitaAhn]

02:29 PM on 01/10/2012

Agreed. I find it interesting as a lesbian because I really don't like the mainstream idea of what a woman "should" look like to be hot ( Megan Fox, etc). I really prefer women who have curves and are a little bit soft. My long-term girlfriend is a size 12 with amazing curves and I think she's the most gorgeous woman in the world, even though according to some people she "should" be a size 0 or some such nonsense. Of course part of it is the incredible trust, love, respect, and genuine enjoyment with have for each other. None of the physical stuff matters without the personality to back it up!

[proudmommy0608]

09:32 AM on 01/11/2012

I agree with the both of you. I'm a straight female and I have no physical preference, it's the personality that matters to me. I'm a bit curvier and the guy I'm with loves it, he doesn't find skinny girls attractive and likens them to a surfboard or a twelve year old.

[aeweidman]

10:16 AM on 01/10/2012

As an bear I beg you not to make my type the object of attention and judgement , it's hard enough to get thru the day without this burden to prove I'm not like every bear on TV or Chubby. I ( as well as most of us) prefer our privacy , We appreciate the fact that we blend into society and don't stand out.

[Steamboater]

12:21 PM on 01/10/2012

Nothing wrong with getting attention. Just deal with it. Judgement is something else.

[fatuglynerd]

12:38 PM on 01/10/2012

It's interesting that you state that you don't want to be clumped with an entire group of people ...

But then you clump all bears with you and say that you all prefer privacy and like blending into society.

You can't have it both ways.

And that's a silly assertion. I have many bear friends who are social and aren't trying to hide from society.

[Rendy Bee Mulyono]

09:29 AM on 01/10/2012

Hm... I kinda like tummies too... but not obese/hirsute one... hard to explain.

[jasmineflowers]

08:02 AM on 01/10/2012

"This" is what supposedly passes as entertainment on MTV, eh? Just another reason why mainstram Americans don't agree with the gay lifestyle~

[Jordin Chrome]

08:48 AM on 01/10/2012

I bet if they put ur lifestyle up we'd all not watch simply because ur boring.

[Steamboater]

12:24 PM on 01/10/2012

You really need to grow up. Just check the web and google straight websites for men who like fat women and every other sort of fetish some Gays have. Don't worry, you're house won;'t collapse and those black helicopters over it won't stay there for long.

[jasmineflowers]

07:58 AM on 01/10/2012

Hello??? Just another reason why Americans are slow to accept the gay lifestyle as "mainstream" the way the LGBT community wants them to~

[fatuglynerd]

12:42 PM on 01/10/2012

Huh? Try English.

[IamYourDrillThrall]

05:08 AM on 01/10/2012

Just goes to show that human sexual attraction is a complex thing. Can't be pigeon holed, cookie-cut, or made to fit into anything other than what the person wants/needs/makes it.

[theatregrove]

10:30 PM on 01/09/2012

I wonder if they'll break down the "bear" community in it's subdevisions. There are all types but will they focus on the obese and/or the fit and hairy?

[jaxstl]

09:15 PM on 01/09/2012

I am a big bear with an asian husband, who do I sue about stealing my reality show...LOL This is cool, so tired of the guys on TV being skinny bitchy queens, so of us are big bitchy queens!

[fatuglynerd]

12:43 PM on 01/10/2012

I am LOVING you and how PROUD you are.

Kudos! Carry on, brother-man!

[NikitaAhn]

02:45 PM on 01/10/2012

It's nice to see the community portrayed with diversity these days, isn't it? I'm fairly "femme" I suppose (though I hate that label, and I can be sort of "sporty" too), but my long-term girlfriend is more of a soft-butch/boi who sometimes actually wears a dress or makeup and looks pretty femme LOL. People get sort of confused by that, like they think she should fit neatly into one label. I wish that there were more butch lesbians on TV, more soft-butches or bois etc. But the mainstream seems to just want femme/femme lesbians because that way the straight guys find it hotter to watch *eyeroll*.

[jaxstl]

03:17 PM on 01/10/2012

Well you did have Jo on "Facts of Life"
...LOL Seriously I just wish there were people on TV who happen to be gay and gay wasn't the main part of the character.

[gaydood]

07:32 PM on 01/09/2012

Bear Nation Official Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzUO1WqEaFY

dont watch this:)

[IamYourDrillThrall]

05:14 AM on 01/10/2012

Oh, but I did (wink.) Thanks for the link.

[Jeff Lassiter]

07:30 PM on 01/09/2012

Dammit, I need a cute chaser...

[gaydood]

08:29 PM on 01/09/2012

ROFL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jeff Lassiter]

10:34 AM on 01/10/2012

I should clarify-cute, intelligent, and not flaky like they normally are!

[Cory Jack]

07:23 PM on 01/09/2012

WHOOHOO!

[Kris jun]

06:07 PM on 01/09/2012

Can't wait to watch this!

[amitt]

04:45 AM on 01/10/2012

Do you want a big bear of your own to keep you warm and safe?

[amitt]

06:10 PM on 01/12/2012

No reply about having a big bear of your own? How did you like the show?

[LiquidPaddy]

05:54 PM on 01/09/2012

... FYI... a nice track by Irish singer, Imelda May, to sing the praises of bears:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JomhWMNI5U