10/09/2020
Greatest Hits Radio was reporting yesterday that it was Teddy Bear Day, a day dedicated to celebrating one of childhood’s classic toys. Teddy Bears have a particular meaning for the LGBTQ communities, and are often given as a gift by “bears”, a subculture of gay and bi men who celebrate the larger body size and fuzziness in hirsuitness. If you are ever passing the Bristol Bear Bar at Christmastime, then it is worth popping in and admiring the teddy bear themed Christmas Tree. The origins of teddy bears as a toy go back to the early twentieth century. In 1902, US President Theodore or Teddy Roosevelt was on a shooting trip to hunt animals – this was of course a very different era with regard to animal rights. But Roosevelt refused to shoot a bear cub he encountered on the trip and the animal cantered off into the forest. The incident became a newspaper story and on November 16th, a cartoon in the “Washington Post” captured Roosevelt’s refusal to shoot. A New York toy store owner, Morris Mitcham, was inspired to make a soft toy of the bear cub and named it “Teddy’s Bear”. The rest is history and Teddy Bears have been some of the most popular toys over the last century and a half. They have comforted millions of us during dark times and light, and have given love without worrying about who we are. For this reason, Teddy Bears are an essential part of LGBTQ lives. At whatever age we are, they represent love and acceptance, and help us to nurture our inner child. Some studies have even showed that children who have teddy bears or similar soft toys as they grow up, experience better emotional resilience than others. If you are looking to get yourself a teddy bear friend, then why not check out the stock in your local charity shop and give a new home to a pre loved bear. Or, there is a company in the States called Bears for Humanity. All their soft toys are organic and fairtrade certified. They’re not cheap, and you may have to pay customs on this side of the pond, but for every bear sold, the company donates another to a child in need somewhere in the world. Happy Teddy Bear Day everyone!
https://www.bearsforhumanity.com/
