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Chubby culture

Encyclopedia : C : CH : CHU : Chubby culture

This article is about chubby culture as a subculture in the gay community. For the corresponding straight community, see Fat admirer.
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.

Contents

Terminology

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

(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. Several chapters are now active across the United States, mostly in large and diverse cities.

Demographics of community

The website Bigger City, which caters to the chubby community, indicates that its membership is made up of the following:

In the United States, attendance at events seems to suggest that there are more chubs active in the community than chasers. Conversely, European events have had more chasers in attendance, as chubby men are not as common in most of Europe as they are in North America.

External links

See also

 

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