The chubby community is a subculture in the gay community. Chubbies (or "chubs") are gay men who are overweight or obese. Although there is some overlap between the chubby community and the bear community, the chubby culture is its own distinct subculture and community. It is somewhat parallel to the Fat admirer or the BBW subculture, which is primarily heterosexual, and to the fat acceptance movement.

Mainstream gay culture is not welcoming of chubs or chasers, so the community has focused on its own culture. There are bars, organizations and social events specifically catering to this subculture. This allows for members of the community to socialize with each other and develop social networks.

In the last several years, large regional social events have developed. They often feature pageants (much like beauty pagents but more sexual in attitude) where titles are given to winners, like "Mr. Chubby International" and "Mr. Chaser International". In the United States, there is an annual national event, Convergence, as well as several annual regional gatherings. There is also an annual event in Europe called European Big Men's Convergence. These events are held in different cities each year and are usually hosted by that city's local big men's organization.

Terminology

These definitions are general in nature; specific definitions may vary depending on the perspective of the individual.

• Chubby or chub - A chub is defined as a large, overweight, or obese man. Generally, chubs are defined as being 250 lb. or larger.
• Superchub - A chub who is extremely large in size, usually over 400 or 500 lb.
• Bear - a man with significant facial and/or body hair, as well as a stocky or heavyset build; often older (or older looking) and displaying a masculine appearance and mannerisms.
• Daddy - an older man, usually a chub or bear.
• Cub - a young version of a bear.
• Chubby chaser or chaser - A man who is of smaller body size and/or stature who is sexually or romantically attracted to chubs or bears. (this term is used in various communities to describe an outsider who has sexual attraction to people within the community).
• Chub for chub (also spelled chub4chub online) - a chub who is sexually or romantically attracted to other chubby men.
• Girth & Mirth - A widespread name for clubs of big men and their admirers.
• Big Men's Club - Another term used to define clubs and organizations for gay and bisexual men and their male admirers.

(The terms "chubby chaser" and "daddy" can also be found in use in more mainstream culture, but for the purposes of this subculture are listed and defined as above.)

History

Ron Suresha's anthology "Bears On Bears" indicates that, while casual social networks for chubby men and chasers had long existed, the first organized social group in the United States (Girth & Mirth) formed in 1976 in San Francisco. The following year, a chapter was organized in Boston, and in 1978 the New York chapter started. Conventions were held in cities such as San Francisco, Chicago, and New York City as early as 1977 or 1978 with large numbers of chubbies and chasers attending. The first meeting to use the name Convergence in the United States was held in Seattle in 1986.^[1] Several chapters are now active across the United States, mostly in large and diverse cities.

Demographics of community

The website BiggerCity, which caters to the chubby community, indicates that its membership is made up of the following^[2]:

• 30% Chasers
• 26% Chubs
• 19% Bears
• 10% Chubs for chubs
• 15% (other)

External links

• UK Size acceptance
• Affiliated Big Men's Clubs: National organization for Girth & Mirth and Big Men's Clubs in the USA.
• Girth & Mirth Chicago: The Girth & Mirth Club in Chicago, IL.
• INSIDE Bear Magazine
• BiggerCity: A web community for Chubs and Chasers.
• BiggerWorld: The biggest Girth & Mirth club in Europe and organizers of EBMC.
• BearCity: Website dedicated to Chubbies, Bears and Chasers.
• MyChub : The Malaysian Portal for Chub & Chasers in Asia.
• ChubSg : The Singaporean Chubby & Chasers Community.
• Chubnet: One of the first sites for the Chub and Chaser community.
• ChubLinks: links to gay chub culture online: Website with free links for gay chubby men & their admirers

See also

• Bear community
• Fat fetishism
• Gaining
• Samson (magazine)

References