bears and otters

The Mr. San Francisco Bear contest had been a Bay Area tradition for over two decades in the 1980's and 1990's, until the contest producer became unable able to continue moving the contest forward and the contest began its long hibernation.

In 2019, Cody Elkin, a former Mr. San Francisco Bear himself, convinced the original producer that he was the man to bring back the bear. Unfortunately, the pandemic and lockdowns in 2020 and 2021 pushed the relaunch of the contest back a few years.

The Mr. San Francisco Bear Contest was finally revived in August 2022, when Mannie Santos took home the title and the sash. Last year, Ray Bacon brought his sizzle to the contest to become Mr. San Francisco Bear 2025. And last year Robert Bear fulfilled his destiny when he was named Mr. San Francisco Bear 2026.

Who will it be this year?

This year, we've decided to branch out a bit and include a new category  - or species - as part of SF Bear Weekend: The Otter!  

No one knows exactly where the term otter came from, but it certainly started as a branch of bear culture, describing gay men who are lean, hairy, and often have a more rugged, natural look. The name comes from the animal itself—slim, furry, and whiskered.

Because otter culture grew out of bear culture, otters are generally welcomed in bear spaces and communities. Otters are often seen as easygoing, friendly, and approachable—the classic "guy next door."

Unlike some other gay subculture labels, otter doesn't require a specific style or level of masculinity. While otters tend to lean masculine, there's a wide range of gender expression and personal style within the group.  Otters are different from cubs, who are typically younger bears. It's also common for some otters to identify more as bears as they get older and their body type changes over time.

Otters have created their own uniquely culture, and we believe they deserve their own contest - eventually. But for this first year, we thought it better to incorporate the SF Bear and SF Otter titles into one contest to ensure a successful launch and to learn how to best serve this part of our community.