Bears United Magazine Newsletter Edition Oct/Nov 2021

www.bearsunitedmagazine.co.uk

This year has been such a busy years so far and with restrictions in the UK easing we are getting back to some type of normal.

We are aimed at the bear/cub/admirer community in the United Kingdom. we aim to offer a unique, fresh and funny approach to being a bear/cub/admirer. Each Newsletter will be filled with news, events, interviews and features, and all with a unique UK twist. Food, gadgets, music, entertainment, events, bars and gorgeous blokes. We think you'll love it.

We are looking to bring you lots of new features, and promote as much as we can, we can only do this with your help so if you fancy a feature being done or have an event / company you would like promoting please get in touch.

Our email is info@bearsunitedmagazine.co.uk

Our social pages - www.linktr.ee/bearsutdmag

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Fancy being one of our Instagram guys if so pop over to our Instagram page and DM us

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Pop over to their Facebook Page www.facebook.com/therembar

Do you love a bit of Tapas?

If your in Manchester and fancy trying some lovely Tapas why not pop along to one of the most friendliest bars in Manchester "The Rem Bar" on Canal Street.

Prehibe is fast approaching & the break down of timetable is here - No registration all events are pay at events to get Manbears going again.

The Manbears Main night is NEON FUR

Check out the schedule of events

To keep up to date with the event go follow Manbears-Manchester Facebook Page Facebook - www.facebook.com/manbears Website - www.manbears-manchester.co.uk

A national charity delivering services, advice and support for LGBT people in England.

LGBT Foundation can be contacted on the following number 0345 3 30 30 30 or www.lgbt.foundation Providing advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. Mind campaign's to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.

Call 0300 123 3393 or www.mind.org.uk

Stonewall, stands for lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer, questioning and ace (LGBTQ+) people everywhere.

Imagining a world where all LGBTQ+ people are free to be ourselves and can live our lives to the full. www.stonewall.org.uk The Proud Trust is an LGBT+ organisation that supports LGBT+ young people through youth groups, peer support, mentoring programs and the Proud Connections chat service. www.theproudtrust.org

AKT supports lgbtq+ young people aged 16-25 in the uk who are facing or experiencing homelessness or living in a hostile environment www.akt.org.uk

Some Exciting News In November, Pauls NEW album Covers 4 will be released on bandcamp as a fan exclusive album with over 18 tracks.

Paul Middleton is an artist from the U.K. Critically acclaimed for his Covers he has demonstrated he can bring new life into classics such as his emotional rendition of 'Careless Whisper’ from Covers 3’ to the tropical house dance classic ‘We Found Love’, Here are few reviews: “A stunning version of a classic song (Careless Whisper)” FV Reviews “Mesmerising” -Stereo Stickman “Taking a tune to the next level” -Sleeping Bag Studios Paul is also passionate about supporting charity Cancer Research after losing his mother to the illness and he is also an advocate of mental health.

Paul wrote an original song called ‘Hanging in There’ for an independent film of the same name,This was also for charity.

Since 2016, Paul has performed in various countries like England, USA,Ireland, Spain, Germany, Italy, Belgium where he has been well received showing that he is not just a superb vocalist but also a great performer.

Go to Paul's Linkt.ree for more details of his social media, to buy his music or to support him via his Patreon subscription www.linktr.ee/paulmiddleton

1st -2nd November @ The Cockatoo Club - Richmond St Manchester www.fb.me/e/UTnJAlcQ

Saturday 13th November @ The Cockatoo Club - Richmond St Manchester www.fb.me/e/1h0eqVvoI

@The Cockatoo Club - Richmond St Manchester www.facebook.com/CockatooClub

Who is Moodybear?

Moodybear is the brand that has been created over the last decade or so. It's a clothing range that caters for a niche audience, specifically but not exclusively plus-size gay men. Moodybear has become an established and internationally recognised symbol for quality clothing and accessories that allow customers to recognise each other without necessarily exposing them to hostility or negativity.

Visit Moodybears site for some great Bear Essentials

www.themoodybear.com

Bumblebear Crafts is a handmade crafts shop, Run by a bear making handmade cards and gifts, This is a small business and was set up to help when mental health was not in a good place, creating items that then built in to this little shop, Bumblebear crafts can be found on Etsy where there are lots of great handmade made cards including a wide range of Christmas designs,

Please go check them out at Facebook - www.facebook.com/Bumblebearcrafts Etsy - www.etsy.com/uk/shop/BumblebearCraftsshop

2 amazing cookbooks to keep you satisfied. 1 sexy planner to keep you going. 2 reasonably funny men to keep you smiling. What more could you need? Go check their socials out and grab there amazing books.

Ways of contact or buy there books Twitter - www.twitter.com/twochubbycubs Instagram - www.instagram.com/twochubbycubs/ Website - www.twochubbycubs.com/

Fully Mobile and insured Professional Valeting and Detailing service Ways of contact Detail Bee by Buzzing them on 0161 222 9392 or via Email - buzz@detailbee.co.uk Facebook - www.facebook.com/detailbeemcr Website - www.detailbee.co.uk/

Need a great design job done get in contact with GR! Design

Website - www.grahamedesigns.com Website - www.grahame.design/work

Club Tropicana is one of the places to visit if you are looking for a great night out , Above The Rem bar in Manchester, Check out there Facebook page www.facebook.com/tropicanamanchester

Turin, Italy, to host the 66th Eurovision Song Contest in May 2022 🇮🇹 The Italian city of Turin has won the race to become the Host City of the 66th Eurovision Song Contest, having triumphed over 16 other competing bids. The Grand Final will be held in PalaOlimpico on Saturday 14 May with Semi-Finals on 10 and 12 May. Turin will be the third Italian city to host Eurovision after Naples (1965) and Rome (1991)

To keep up to date check out The Eurovision.Tv website - www.eurovision.tv

The Big Scrum - 1st Friday of every month

www.bearscots.org.uk

The Rem Bar - Manchester Canal Street's original and best-loved gay men's bar.

Back to its best with regular live entertainment, horny guys & great atmosphere.

Check out there Facebook page for lots of great nights www.facebook.com/TheRemBar

Promoting local Business's and Bar's around Manchester's Gay Village www.facebook.com/Via.Canal.Street www.facebook.com/TheRemBar www.facebook.com/newyorkbarmcr www.facebook.com/eaglebarmanchester www.facebook.com/tropicanamanchester www.facebook.com/cruz101manchester www.facebook.com/Sub101Manchester www.facebook.com/BarPopOfficial www.facebook.com/richmondtearooms www.facebook.com/Churchills-Canal-Street220953371894253 www.facebook.com/canalst

Gay Mens Creative Community is a group that can provide a means for members to network, to find or offer support and advice, learn new skills or share their own, maybe find ways to collaborate. Gerard is reaching out to those who have creative interests and those who are looking to have more creative opportunities in their lives.

If you are interested in joining the group click the link below www.facebook.com/groups/1473461143021431/

You can find The Gumball store's beautiful artwork on Instagram, www.instagram.com/jo_gumballart as well as buy there products on Etsy www.etsy.me/3prs4zE

Mark Coulstock Coming out Story I was born in the late 60’s, so my burgeoning awareness of my sexuality came amongst the shouting and noise of the 1980’s. This was the time after the miners strikes, Margaret Thatcher’s government, The Falklands conflict (still not a war apparently), clause 28 and the Aids crisis.

These huge landmarks sort of passed me by due to the pressure of my own inner voice and strange feelings. I was in the Cadets, which was only just beginning to accept girls as members.

I lived in my parent’s pub in very right-wing South-East London and people were also asking me if I had a girlfriend yet? Nope, not really. I lied, mainly to myself, I think. Haven’t found a girl that I liked yet. I’m waiting for the right one to come along or how about I’m too busy enjoying myself for girls?

That was a load of bullshit of course, I just didn’t know it at the time. I just thought there was something wrong with me. I was about thirteen and just didn’t have a clue or an interest about the opposite sex. I think I knew in the back of my head somewhere that there was something different about me. Growing up in the places I had most of the men I had met were noisy, ignorant, and rude. Sort of like the London Royle family but with none of the class.

As time went on, I did figure out that I didn’t fancy girls. My first experience of being turned on was leafing through the bullworker instruction manual and getting turned on by the pictures of the big blonde, hairy guy demonstrating the moves.

Then the Aids reared its head and I felt I had to hide these feelings; I developed my first crush on one of my fellow cadets. Senior to me by a few years, I couldn’t talk to him without stuttering or for fear of having to explain wet spots on my uniform.

I got older and still in hiding to myself I started to find my libido getting hard to control but still had no outlet. I’d sneak looks at the gay mags in the shops and the bodybuilding magazines, confused as to why they got me like they did. I hated myself for it. As I got to my late teens, I couldn’t lose these thoughts and feelings. I realised that they were part of me.

What would my family say? My friends? I ran away to London. I lived in London, so it wasn’t very far. Looking back now I really didn’t think that through, did I? Fast forward 6 months. I’d been working as a barman in a nightclub in central London and was walking to work when I heard footsteps behind me. My mum grabbed me on the shoulder and as I turned her, and my dad just stared. I was in shock; I didn’t know what to say. So, I made up a story of feeling trapped and said I just lost it one day and left. We talked about it in a pub for hours.

They said they wanted me to come home. So, I did. My secret shame still buried deep inside. Or that’s how I saw it.

The next few years came and went with me discovering the telephone chat lines and spending a fortune on them. I had two experiences with them. One was with who, looking back was a nice enough guy who had a boot fetish. The other, not so nice who left me hurt, confused and in denial about what had happened on the one night we had met and gone back to his place. That story is for another time, I think.

These two guys left me torn. Boot guy awakened something in me. Was a sexual awakening, I guess? It showed that two guys can enjoy themselves together. He also introduced me to poppers. I didn’t drink, smoke, or take drugs so that was interesting to say the least.

The other guy taught me that people can be selfish, cruel and abusive even if they are gay.

I swore that second guy would not be me. I was in denial for many years about what happened that night.

So, I was about 22 years old and had, what I thought was a great group of friends. Three of us had taken a flat together and were part of a larger social circle. I was still in the closet but, I was getting to the point where I really wanted to say who I was. That changed when one of my so-called friends broke into my room looking for porn and found two things. My diary and a magazine. The magazine was called Him and the diary pretty much said everything else.

Over the next few weeks, I began to sense a change in the atmosphere when we went out. Snide comments like “Big boys in boots,” or, “He wouldn’t fancy her unless she had a beard. One of my friends took me aside and told me what had happened and that everyone knew. None of them, except him had liked it and they were just waiting for a time they could really take it out on me.

I lost it, I moved out of the flat the next day and moved back to my parents. They wanted to know what had happened, but I wouldn’t say. I could feel these feelings all bubbling inside I knew something was going to blow. My mum had developed cancer, my sister was pregnant, my brother getting into all sorts of trouble with drugs and alcohol and my dad was drinking the profits of his business. How could I lay this on top of everything? Admit my secret shame?

I don’t know why I chose to go again but I did. I had moved to the coast to try and sort my head out. The friend who had told me what happened with the diary was the only one who didn’t care I was gay. Looking back, I think he was too.

When I’d moved to the coast, I couldn’t get my head right. Everything was spinning out of control because I had no-one to talk through things with. I had the one loyal friend. After everything that had happened, I had a break down I cut all ties with my family and friend. I vanished to try and start a new life somewhere I could be myself.

I ended up in Manchester working in a gay pub there. It was there I met and fell for a lovely guy from Sheffield. We ended up together for several years. I eventually told him about everything that had happened. I struggled with the guilt of abandoning my family and had to get back to them. I wrote a letter to my mum telling her I was okay, that I was sorry for disappearing and that I was gay. It took weeks for me to post the letter.

Some time later I got a letter, I knew it was from her. My hands were shaking as I opened it. When I read what she’d written I started crying. I didn’t stop for several hours. I won’t give you the details here, but the main message was that she’d always known and was waiting for me to be ready to admit it to myself and then be able to tell her. She said it didn’t matter and apologised for never realising what I had been going through.

I eventually went back to visit, and things were different now I had been able to admit being gay to them and to myself. I was able to work through the guilt of running away and the guilt and shame I had felt. I had become happy with the person I was and that it was good to be proud of that. It took time to rebuild my family relationships and many, years later their support is there.

I did things I wasn’t proud of because of my breakdown but now, being the person, I have become I feel that they have made me who I am today and don’t think I regret the changes even if I do regret the hurt and upset, I caused too.

Today, I am proud of who I am and love the people around me and myself too. I have plenty of baggage still but who doesn’t? As a member of the Bear community, I work to make anyone who joins us welcome and in the broader community as well. We spend so much time on guilt and introspection that we forget many others have been through their own journeys and hardships. We need to work together to continue to support younger LGBTQ+ people and let them no that they’re not alone.

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Fancy your Pictures taking either for something professional or more sexy.

Centred around Body Positivity, and the idea that All Male Bodies Are Beautiful, and deserve the same attention Lee can be contacted through any of the social media channels listed below, or by Email: leewolfy@googlemail.com Instagram - www.instagram.com/lee_wolfy_photo Twitter - www.twitter.com/leewolfyphoto Facebook - www.facebook.com/leewolfyphotography

Meet Glenn he is a LGBTQIA+ Historical Fantasy writer.

About Glenn He is a graphic designer, photographer and artist.

Originally from Dublin, Ireland, and now live's in Lisburn, Northern Ireland.

The below website showcase's his work Glenn is available for hire if you require photographic services, logos or any other graphic design elements.

You can support Glenn by checking the following links below Facebook - www.facebook.com/public/Glen-Quigley Website - www.glennquigley.com Link to where you can buy Glenn's Books www.glennquigley.com/buybooks/

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