Tag Archives: class

COL669: LoR: Relationship Anarchy

In this episode of Cubs Out Loud, it’s time for another Landscape of Relationships. Damon is away this week celebrating his birthday, but have no fear dear listeners – because Dr. Edward Angelini-Cooke has returned! From scripts to relationship values, the guys discuss determining what each of us wants and needs.

Show Topic

Landscape of Relationships: Relationship Anarchy

Landscape of Relationships is back with Dr. Angelini-Cooke to discuss the topic of Relationship Anarchy. Who doesn’t love disorder in their connections with others? Perhaps that isn’t what it means. Let’s learn together!

Instructional Manifesto for Relationship Anarchy post 

The term Relationship anarchist (also commonly called RA) was coined by Ardie Nordgren. Nordgren created the Instructional Manifesto for Relationship Anarchy in 2006. The Manifesto is a quick and easy read consisting of 9 principles of RA: 

  1. Love is abundant, and every relationship is unique
  2. Love and respect instead of entitlement 
  3. Find your core set of relationship values
  4. Heterosexism is rampant and out there, but don’t let fear lead you
  5. Build for the lovely unexpected
  6. Fake it til’ you make it
  7. Trust is better
  8. Change through communication
  9. Customize your commitments

“Relationship anarchy is a way of approaching relationships that rejects any rules and expectations other than the ones the involved people agree on. This approach ‘encourages people to let their core values guide how they choose and craft their relationship commitments rather than relying on social norms to dictate what is right for you,” Dedeker Winston, co-host of the Multiamory podcast

Relationship Anarchists is different and distinctive from polyamory and consensual non-monogamy because while a majority of RA practitioners may be poly and/or CNM, you can be monogamous and still practice RA.  

Choose your own adventure relationships. “Designer Relationships” by Mark A. Michaels

This is in line with our last LOR topic of amatonormativity. Many ace and aro individuals are using RA as a way to navigate their relationships and future relationships, because RA can apply to any and all types of relationships, not just romantic or sexual. There is no hierarchy.

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COL661: LoR: Queer Platonic Relationships

In this episode of Cubs Out Loud, the guys are joined once again by Dr. Edward Angelini-Cooke to continue our Landscape of Relationships series. For this episode, the guys discuss QPRs or Queer Platonic Relationships. QPRs are intimate relationships that are neither romantic nor sexual in nature. Listen in as Ed builds up the fundamentals of this different relationship dynamic and its origins and brings it up to date for modern audiences.

Show Topic

Landscape of Relationships: Queer Platonic Relationships

Landscape of Relationships returns. Queer platonic relationships are our focus this month when it comes to relationships. QPRs are committed intimate relationships which are neither romantic nor sexual in nature and that differ from close friendship by having the same structure and status as a romantic relationship. The concept originates in aromantic and asexual spaces in the LGBT community. The term has begun to also be used in polyamorous communities to help describe the complex relationships.  The term “queers” social norms for defining relationships, it isn’t a friendship nor is it a romantic relationship.

Asexual (Ace)

  • “Sexual orientation where a person experiences little to no sexual attraction to anyone and/or does not experience desire for sexual contact” (aceandaros.com, 2021)

Aromantic (Aro)

  • “Romantic orientation, which describes people whose experience of romance is disconnected from normative societal expectations, commonly due to experiencing little to no romantic attraction, but also due to feeling repulsed by romance, or being uninterested in romantic relationships.” (AUREA FAQ on Aromanticism.org, 2021).  

Allosexual 

  • “Describes people who are not on the asexual spectrum. They can have any romantic orientation, including aromantic” (TAAAP.org, 2021).  

Alloromantic

  • “Described people who are not on the aromantic spectrum. They have any sexual orientation, including asexual” (TAAAP.org, 2001).

Historically speaking , QPR has been described as an “ancient practice made new again”. 

  • Boston MarriagesA Boston marriage was one in which two independent women chose to build a life and a household together, rather than marrying. 
  • Romantic FriendshipsClose but often times non-sexual relationship. Used primarily in historical contexts (e.g. Alexander Hamilton and John Laurens; Abraham Lincoln and Joshua Speed).

Zucchini 

  • Term of endearment used to describe a queerplatonic partner.  
  • Also, “squish” has been used to describe a non-romantic crush.

Amatonormativity (Elizabeth Brake)

  • The idea that everyone needs to be in a romantic relationship 
  • Hallmark movies 
  • Laws surrounding marriage 
  • Chosen families 

Other Resources

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COL401: BEAR: Prepare Your Sack

In this episode of Cubs Out Loud, we start a new regular topic: BEAR (Bear Experience Action Readiness)! This time around, we give you some tips on packing your sack…for your next bear run. Just in time for NAB 2017, the cubs remind you what to bring to make the experience a pleasant one.

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Introduction Topics

What’s Going On?

  • Jeff: It’s almost the end
  • Damon: KillerBob
  • Chester: Preparing for class, packing for NAB
  • Gary: NAB is coming!

Feedback:

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Tumblr Comment:

  • Comment by Wolfire1 “looks like fun!”

Weekly Topic

New Series! “Bear Experience Action Readiness” where we talk about what we think can help others improve their experience at a bear event.

 

Our premier series topic is about ‘what to pack, in your sack’ [aka luggage].

 

  1. Drugs! (You should start taking these BEFORE the run.)
    • Vitamin C – 1000mg/day
    • Zinc – 50mg/day
    • Medications
  2. Hygiene items! (It’s not likely that everyone’s into funk.)
    • Be ready to freshen up yourself
    • Body areas: Inside [mouth, ass], Outside [head to foot]
    • Cottonelle Wipes!
  3. Sexy Grab Bag
  4. Medical Essentials
    • CPAP
    • Extension Cord
    • Multi-plug outlet
  5. Miscellaneous Room Items
    • Air Fresheners
    • Candles? (Check with hotel about rules)
    • Water/Soft Drinks/Alcohol
    • Food/Snacks

Cooldown Topics

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COL388: Entourage Feedback

col388In this episode of Cubs Out Loud, the guys take some time to look at some of your feedback! That’s right! Thanks to the listeners, the cubs are able to dedicate a whole episode to what you all wish to say to them.

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Introduction Topics

What’s Going On?

  • Jeff: 3 Down, 21 to go
  • Damon: OT/Interview
  • Chester: End of roadtrip, soulsearching
  • Gary: Changing Seasons

Feedback:

Facebook Likes:

  • Jeffrey Boan

 

YouTube Subscribers:

  • BEAR Bigass

 

Bear Underground:

  • AVidahl: Grrr!

Twitter:

  • Mark L
  • Chris Bulk

Tumblr:

  • Friedballoonobject
  • Theangrybeaver11
  • Redpanda007
  • Cubziz
  • Noctis69
  • Bearhuggercub
  • Eduard9486

Weekly Topic

It’s a COL Entourage feedback show!

From BearUnderground.net

Troy007s
Pvt msg to Chester:
Cubs out loud is back. Great. Same cast or some new members? (I replied)
Followed by:
Welcome to the group! How did you come to get involved? There wasn’t much talk of the show lately on this site but enjoyed listening to all the guys get together and talk about things. Does the group ever meet in person for events?

chubnerdchaser

Posted 1 month ago re: COL380 Power Hour 4

This one was definitely worth the watch on YouTube. The shirtless eye candy wasn’t available on my podcast audio. ;P

chubnerdchaser

Posted 2 months ago re: COL374: Bear Origins

Highly recommend listening to at least 374 if you’re not a regular listener. It’s really good. I laughed, I cried, I got a semi. Thanks for recording it!

chubnerdchaser

Posted 3 months ago COL372: LTAS: The DL Deal

Really loved this episode! As someone who is one of the (mostly) D/L guys, it was good to hear more from the other side of the coin. Also really glad you touched on the type of D/L guys who aren’t “out” about being into chubs or bears, even if they’re otherwise out as gay. It’s one of my pet peeves!

Keep up the great work!

chubnerdchaser

Posted 4 months ago re: COL367 Bear Issues….?

Loved this episode – thanks!

Email from Tony B.

Hi guys,

Gary recently told me online that I was mentioned in the latest episode. I admit I hadn’t listened since his adventures at Claw, simply haven’t had time. I did subscribe to the Youtube channel, but didn’t get any further.

But the latest episode appears to not be working, so I listened to 383 and wanted to chime in.

Young Bears:

Here in St. Louis, myself and another bear, started a new type of bear club back in 2002. “The Bears of St. Louis” or BOSL for short. The main local bear club (Show Me Bears) is based out of a bar and I’d

wager 99% of its events are held at the bar. So we started our club with the intent of NOT being bar based. This was two-fold. First, there was no overlap with the existing club, so we wouldn’t “steal members”, but second, it could grab a new audience.

And it did.

We had a *LOT* of college-aged involvement which is rare of standard bear clubs.

Their participation was because a lot of school-based LGBT clubs are geared more towards visibility and (at the time) equal rights and not so much for individuals tastes. So as people interested in bears, they didn’t feel at home there. They weren’t ignored, but the posters didn’t have muscle bears or hairy men, they were gay icons and “pretty boys”, not the gruff kind of men they found interest in.

BUT… we also had one 16 year old attend a potluck of ours, WITH his father. Sadly he didn’t come back. Not because of anything wrong, per se. Basically his father was a bear, just a straight one, and so everyone chatted with him. The young guy felt distanced because not only was his father getting all the attention (worst thing that could happen for a youth) but he wasn’t getting anyone hitting on him, and he was frustrated. I explained that part of it was because his father hit a lot of people’s interests and that he was still “dangerous” being still too young for most guys to associate with too much. The father loved the fact that his expectations were wrong. He assumed we’d be stereotypical gays and instead found himself standing around a BBQ pit with a beer in hand talking about sports… with a couple who had been together for 10+ years. So I’m certain we helped him adjust a little better in regards to his son. 🙂

But with most consent laws being 17 or 18 (depending on state), I can see where the 18 year old is the line, but for the most part, every run I’ve been to has enforced a 21-year or older requirement on their applications. And while it sucks, a lot of times it is because of the venues that the events are hosted at. (Bars, hotels, van/buses, etc.)

There is a need for groups like this. Sadly our group fell apart as it wasn’t designed to be anything more than a social group, so there was no real power structure in place and by 2004, it was gone. Was an amazing two years though. 🙂

One thing I’ll mention that our group also had in participation… Recovering alcoholics.

I never anticipated that, but by not doing events at the bar and providing non-bar based activities, we had a lot of participation from people who had to avoid alcohol.

Another group it attracted and I half-expected this… Couples.

Couples don’t tend to hit the bars a lot as the constant barrage of flirting, drunken gropes, etc, can be a bit much. But for a non-sexualized bear club, there was a lot of couples interested in coming to events.

So there is a market for non-bar based clubs. I know that’s a diversion off the 18-21 year old topic, but I wanted to mention some other groups that get overlooked by the current organizations out there.

Bisexuality:

I like the phrase “Bi-Now, Gay-Later”, very cute.

So, I dated a Bisexual Poly man, in a gay monogamous relationship (which became a triad) and it ended roughly a year after we started. He is currently married to a woman. I get asked how I feel about that and my comment is always “The only thing I’m upset about is that I didn’t get a damned invite to the wedding!”

Sexuality is fluid. I know a bisexual man who loves skinny women with huge boobs and big men (presumeably with moobs). I found it fascinating to hear him describe it all. But it is who he is.

I myself identify as gay, but I have seen women who I’d have sex with… Probably just morbid curiosity, but I could. I think. Maybe. *shrug* No real interest in finding out though. (And don’t tell my mother, or it’ll rekindle her questions about when I’m going to have kids. Oi.)

Onto the topic of Leather/BDSM play spaces and Sex/Gender issues:

One thing to point out is that there’s an interesting duality here. Play spaces mean different things to different segments of the Leather/BDSM world.

For the pan-sexual world, sex is one aspect of play, but it isn’t an identifier. The BDSM acts are.

For the gay world, sex *IS* our defining trait. We are gay because we want man-on-man action. Thus it is a focus.

And to me, THAT is where the separation comes in. Pansexual BDSM is about the BDSM, not sex. Gay BDSM is about fetishized sex. Not solely and they both cross paths, but the “what gets people hot” is different.

50 Shades of Grey makes gay leathermen giggle with how “quaint” it is. But for women, it’s amazing. By the same token, women who watch gay BDSM videos, they want the raw animal nature of it, the power exchange, the testosterone dripping during the scene…

Can a crossover happen at an event? That gets complicated, especially when it comes to the law. Because straight sex can create children… how would an event handle that? But I’m sure it could happen (and probably does, just not publically known.)

As such, most of the pansexual events I’ve seen are BDSM only, sex back in your room. While most gay events are BDSM mainly, but sex might happen, so be prepared.

Keep in mind, this is no different than bars. How many straight bars have a “back room”? Yet that was a mainstay in the gay bar scene for decades (and still exists in some areas).

Forced bisexuality in BDSM:

I disagree with the topic brought up that a straight couple, the man might force the woman to have sex with another woman…

There is ALWAYS a choice in BDSM. Even slaves CAN say no. (They might not like the consequences, but they can.)

And remember, pansexual BDSM is rarely about sex and more about the BDSM itself. So yes, a Dom male may force a sub female to “assist” with another sub female, but rarely would he force them into sex (unless that was negotiated as a possibility, etc.) and frankly, most Dom males would much prefer something more along the lines of binding one while having sex with the other and forcing the other to watch, much as many Dom males with two male subs would… The BDSM aspect is the same either way.

The problem we see is that as gay men, we don’t distinguish sex from BDSM. And so we assume a BDSM act between one man and two women would be sexual, but it may not be. Just as we would see three men together and if the only activity that happened was bondage, we’d go “really? Just being tied up? No sex? Damn. What a waste.”

While the acts of BDSM are the same either way, one is more of sensuality and heightening arousal (pansexual) while the other (gay) is much more focused on the complete action from start to finish.

And again, is that fixed? Not at all. I’ve seen pansexual scenes that were to completion and I’ve been in gay scenes that involved no sex. But we tend to drift to categorize based on what we like… and we have to watch out for that assumption.

Just my thoughts.

Great episode and look forward to the next one. (Soooooo nervous about how I got brought up. Hehe…)

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