The GOLDEN STATE BEARS came to be in September 1994 with the idea of meeting the kinds of guys you want to be around. Regular guys that like to be around other regular guys. The group originated for the purpose of getting together with other Bears, Cubs, and Friends without having to leave the San Joaquin Valley.

For those of us who live in the Central Valley Region, the club provides a means of social support without having to make a constant pilgrimage to other cities to meet bear-minded folk. However, we do have members from outside of the area - mainly in San Francisco / Bay Area, but also Sacramento-ish, Los Angeles, and even out of state!

We need your support, input and encouragement.

Most of us are hairy, but a few of us are not. Visually, we are the furry or bearded, often husky guys in the crowd. We range in age from young cubs to gray ol' Grizzly Bears. We are comfortable with our own sense of masculinity. We are not necessarily perennially youthful or have a full head of hair.

Whether you are hairy or not, being a bear is an attitude.

Also, GOLDEN STATE BEARS doesn't limit itself only to big men. We have members of many sizes. Our club is inclusive, and we have never told anyone they weren't big enough, hairy enough or pretty enough to join.

The foremost reason to form a Bear club is to assemble the kinds of guys that you would like to get your paws on.

Short and sweet: a Golden State Bear is a member of a fun social group!

But aren't these bear clubs just sex clubs? There are some bear clubs which are exclusively sexual in nature. The Golden State Bears is a social group for gay Men. Most of our events are social in nature; but as we are gay men, there may be a sexually oriented event. If we do have a sexually oriented event, it would always be identified as such and no one will be pressured to attend.

For application to join the club, visit our home bar, The Phoenix, or click on Contact Us

We have decided to put together a Bear club in the Fresno area as a means to meet Bears, Cubs and friends of Bears in a secure and friendly environment. The club also has fund-raising activites for non-profit organizations.

Having a financial base allows the club to engage in social and recreational activites. For activities and events outside the Fresno area we need to be able to rent a bus, for example. To participate in area fairs and pride events we need to cover entrance and booth fees. For public and private parties and events your money goes toward food and drink. The club has ongoing printing costs for flyers, posters and pamphlets.

Also, we are in constant correspondence with other nation-wide bear and social clubs that involve mailing costs. The club currently produces Golden State Bear T-shirts and tank tops, pins and hats.