Cubs

Cub is a term from the Bear community, an LGBTQ subculture of gay and bisexual men that formed in the 1980s in reaction to youth-focused and body-conscious mainstream gay culture. A cub is generally a younger or younger-looking man who shares Bear traits such as body hair and a larger or huskier build, essentially a younger Bear. The label sits alongside related terms like otter (leaner and hairy) and daddy (older and dominant). Cub identity gave younger men a welcoming place within Bear spaces, and cubs are sometimes paired with or mentored by older Bears. As with most community labels, it is self-defined and worn by those who feel it fits.