Dr Nick McGlynn
@nick-mcglynn.bsky.social
Senior Lecturer in Human Geography at the University of Brighton. I do research on 🏳️🌈LGBTQ communities, 🍑fatness, & the GBQ men's 🐻Bear subculture. Very gay.
Having said that, what's happening in the area is not really gentrification at all - those days are long gone - but just land financialisation leading to the most hideous capital-driven urban redevelopment (what they've done to Tottenham Court Road looks bloody awful).
November 29, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Having said that, what's happening in the area is not really gentrification at all - those days are long gone - but just land financialisation leading to the most hideous capital-driven urban redevelopment (what they've done to Tottenham Court Road looks bloody awful).
Then a field trip to Soho to investigate changes to LGBTQ neighbourhoods.
Discovered that they have gentrified both poppers and the f-slur.
I had to ask the bf wth the toppers are - apparently they're plastic caps for poppers to get deeper up your nostrils 🐽
Discovered that they have gentrified both poppers and the f-slur.
I had to ask the bf wth the toppers are - apparently they're plastic caps for poppers to get deeper up your nostrils 🐽
November 29, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Then a field trip to Soho to investigate changes to LGBTQ neighbourhoods.
Discovered that they have gentrified both poppers and the f-slur.
I had to ask the bf wth the toppers are - apparently they're plastic caps for poppers to get deeper up your nostrils 🐽
Discovered that they have gentrified both poppers and the f-slur.
I had to ask the bf wth the toppers are - apparently they're plastic caps for poppers to get deeper up your nostrils 🐽
Sometimes forget I have this account, anyway I've been doing some cool stuff w my students recently. First off a trip to the always excellent Queer Britain museum - thanks to the volunteers for speaking to us about less visible aspects like funding, community-building, curation etc.
November 29, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Sometimes forget I have this account, anyway I've been doing some cool stuff w my students recently. First off a trip to the always excellent Queer Britain museum - thanks to the volunteers for speaking to us about less visible aspects like funding, community-building, curation etc.
Coming up on Nov 13th, 'A Sense of the Possible: Trans Geographies in Dystopian Times' - online & organised by Royal Geographical Society research groups. Learn about the role of the discipline in a time of reactionary anti-trans politics.
www.rgs.org/events/upcom...
www.rgs.org/events/upcom...
October 30, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Coming up on Nov 13th, 'A Sense of the Possible: Trans Geographies in Dystopian Times' - online & organised by Royal Geographical Society research groups. Learn about the role of the discipline in a time of reactionary anti-trans politics.
www.rgs.org/events/upcom...
www.rgs.org/events/upcom...
Voting for strike action is never done lightly but I've voted Yes & Yes in our UCU ballot.
We're demanding uni bosses stop cutting pay & jobs, AND work with us to lobby government to fix 15 years of catastrophic funding policies. This last bit is vital & I'm glad to see my union taking the lead!
We're demanding uni bosses stop cutting pay & jobs, AND work with us to lobby government to fix 15 years of catastrophic funding policies. This last bit is vital & I'm glad to see my union taking the lead!
October 29, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Voting for strike action is never done lightly but I've voted Yes & Yes in our UCU ballot.
We're demanding uni bosses stop cutting pay & jobs, AND work with us to lobby government to fix 15 years of catastrophic funding policies. This last bit is vital & I'm glad to see my union taking the lead!
We're demanding uni bosses stop cutting pay & jobs, AND work with us to lobby government to fix 15 years of catastrophic funding policies. This last bit is vital & I'm glad to see my union taking the lead!
Out on my walking tour of Brighton's LGBTQ+ spaces, with members of u3a (Third Age Trust for lifelong learning) 🌈
The guided walk covers Brighton's infamous cottaging sites, half-straight half-gay bars, lesbian activist spaces, HIV memorials, & bars dealing w a changed social & economic landscape.
The guided walk covers Brighton's infamous cottaging sites, half-straight half-gay bars, lesbian activist spaces, HIV memorials, & bars dealing w a changed social & economic landscape.
September 23, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Out on my walking tour of Brighton's LGBTQ+ spaces, with members of u3a (Third Age Trust for lifelong learning) 🌈
The guided walk covers Brighton's infamous cottaging sites, half-straight half-gay bars, lesbian activist spaces, HIV memorials, & bars dealing w a changed social & economic landscape.
The guided walk covers Brighton's infamous cottaging sites, half-straight half-gay bars, lesbian activist spaces, HIV memorials, & bars dealing w a changed social & economic landscape.
Finally we got some time with Bear artwork that creatively explores queer male masculinities and bodies.
Much of this was from the Bear Icons exhibit of the early 2000s - original artwork apparently lost somewhere in Palm Springs but thankfully we've got photos.
Much of this was from the Bear Icons exhibit of the early 2000s - original artwork apparently lost somewhere in Palm Springs but thankfully we've got photos.
September 5, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Finally we got some time with Bear artwork that creatively explores queer male masculinities and bodies.
Much of this was from the Bear Icons exhibit of the early 2000s - original artwork apparently lost somewhere in Palm Springs but thankfully we've got photos.
Much of this was from the Bear Icons exhibit of the early 2000s - original artwork apparently lost somewhere in Palm Springs but thankfully we've got photos.
This period also saw an explosion of media & glossy magazines targeting Bears and Bear-y guys. Plus growth of Bear as a consumerist lifestyle, w products branded and marketed towards those in Bear communities - even mainstream publishers took note of this new & lucrative market.
September 5, 2025 at 8:36 PM
This period also saw an explosion of media & glossy magazines targeting Bears and Bear-y guys. Plus growth of Bear as a consumerist lifestyle, w products branded and marketed towards those in Bear communities - even mainstream publishers took note of this new & lucrative market.
Final day of my first scoping visit investigating the US history of gay/bi/queer Bears.
Today was mostly mid-to-late 2000s, w Bear becoming a huge phenomenon in the USA - multi-day Bear events now v large & complex undertakings (mostly volunteer-run). Note the welcome from then-mayor Gavin Newsom!
Today was mostly mid-to-late 2000s, w Bear becoming a huge phenomenon in the USA - multi-day Bear events now v large & complex undertakings (mostly volunteer-run). Note the welcome from then-mayor Gavin Newsom!
September 5, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Final day of my first scoping visit investigating the US history of gay/bi/queer Bears.
Today was mostly mid-to-late 2000s, w Bear becoming a huge phenomenon in the USA - multi-day Bear events now v large & complex undertakings (mostly volunteer-run). Note the welcome from then-mayor Gavin Newsom!
Today was mostly mid-to-late 2000s, w Bear becoming a huge phenomenon in the USA - multi-day Bear events now v large & complex undertakings (mostly volunteer-run). Note the welcome from then-mayor Gavin Newsom!
And artwork from the 'Bear Icons' art exhibit (some very NSFW).
September 4, 2025 at 9:17 PM
And artwork from the 'Bear Icons' art exhibit (some very NSFW).
VHS tapes of recorded Mr Bear contests, some personal recordings and others sold after the events.
September 4, 2025 at 9:17 PM
VHS tapes of recorded Mr Bear contests, some personal recordings and others sold after the events.
Plenty of Bear merchandise like mugs, hankies, pins and badges - even sex parties were handing them out.
September 4, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Plenty of Bear merchandise like mugs, hankies, pins and badges - even sex parties were handing them out.
Photos from Golden Age of Bears day 3!
Today we got a more digital and material culture.
First up some early Bear social media (websites & mailing lists).
Today we got a more digital and material culture.
First up some early Bear social media (websites & mailing lists).
September 4, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Photos from Golden Age of Bears day 3!
Today we got a more digital and material culture.
First up some early Bear social media (websites & mailing lists).
Today we got a more digital and material culture.
First up some early Bear social media (websites & mailing lists).
And adverts, flyers and posters for Bear events in the US and beyond - our first find of a Bear event in Turkey in 2003!
More pics coming tomorrow after day 3 is done.
More pics coming tomorrow after day 3 is done.
September 3, 2025 at 10:01 PM
And adverts, flyers and posters for Bear events in the US and beyond - our first find of a Bear event in Turkey in 2003!
More pics coming tomorrow after day 3 is done.
More pics coming tomorrow after day 3 is done.
Incredible photos from Bear and Pride events of the 80s and 90s, including the Stonewall 25th anniversary march.
September 3, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Incredible photos from Bear and Pride events of the 80s and 90s, including the Stonewall 25th anniversary march.
We found one of the entries in the original contest to decide upon the Bear flag - we're hoping to see the other entries tomorrow.
September 3, 2025 at 10:01 PM
We found one of the entries in the original contest to decide upon the Bear flag - we're hoping to see the other entries tomorrow.
Mainstream gay media writes more and more articles about Bears, contextualising us within the wider scene and helping the phenomenon spread (while also misrepresenting - not maliciously - the everyday realities of Beardom).
September 3, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Mainstream gay media writes more and more articles about Bears, contextualising us within the wider scene and helping the phenomenon spread (while also misrepresenting - not maliciously - the everyday realities of Beardom).
Day 2 in the Bear History Project archive at Cornell, here are a few snapshots from today!
First, some merch from various Bear media, events and regional groups.
First, some merch from various Bear media, events and regional groups.
September 3, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Day 2 in the Bear History Project archive at Cornell, here are a few snapshots from today!
First, some merch from various Bear media, events and regional groups.
First, some merch from various Bear media, events and regional groups.
(NSFW alert) and ofc tons of Bear porn and erotica, chubs and fat guys often centered esp as we move into the 90s.
That's it for day 1, will post more updates tomorrow! 🐻
That's it for day 1, will post more updates tomorrow! 🐻
September 2, 2025 at 9:14 PM
(NSFW alert) and ofc tons of Bear porn and erotica, chubs and fat guys often centered esp as we move into the 90s.
That's it for day 1, will post more updates tomorrow! 🐻
That's it for day 1, will post more updates tomorrow! 🐻
Posters & flyers for Bear sex parties and protest marches - one has what strikes me as v early reference to 'trans' rather than 'transsexual' or 'transgender' Bears (1993).
September 2, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Posters & flyers for Bear sex parties and protest marches - one has what strikes me as v early reference to 'trans' rather than 'transsexual' or 'transgender' Bears (1993).
So many club materials and newsletters from Bear groups across the US (tons of city-, region- & state-specific ones).
Plus international groups (Canada, Japan, Belgium, Sweden, Italy, UK & more) exploding from the mid/late 90s.
As a geographer I'm 🥵 for this stuff
Plus international groups (Canada, Japan, Belgium, Sweden, Italy, UK & more) exploding from the mid/late 90s.
As a geographer I'm 🥵 for this stuff
September 2, 2025 at 9:14 PM
So many club materials and newsletters from Bear groups across the US (tons of city-, region- & state-specific ones).
Plus international groups (Canada, Japan, Belgium, Sweden, Italy, UK & more) exploding from the mid/late 90s.
As a geographer I'm 🥵 for this stuff
Plus international groups (Canada, Japan, Belgium, Sweden, Italy, UK & more) exploding from the mid/late 90s.
As a geographer I'm 🥵 for this stuff
Some of Les' writing on Bears published in various gay magazines, periodicals and books, plus his records of Bear groups and media. Noted how much slimmer representations of Bears were in the 80s and early 80s.
September 2, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Some of Les' writing on Bears published in various gay magazines, periodicals and books, plus his records of Bear groups and media. Noted how much slimmer representations of Bears were in the 80s and early 80s.
Day 1 of research in the Bear History Project archive at Cornell now complete! Exhausted but kinda floored by the incredible materials Les has captured over the decades. Will post some daily highlights before too 👇
September 2, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Day 1 of research in the Bear History Project archive at Cornell now complete! Exhausted but kinda floored by the incredible materials Les has captured over the decades. Will post some daily highlights before too 👇
Final day in Ithaca before work starts. Checked out more of the town (person w the Kamala 2024 poster in the window - give it up mate). Then since it's Labor Day went to a picnic hosted by the local workers' association. Nice people, learned just how much tax you can avoid as a property magnate uni.
September 1, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Final day in Ithaca before work starts. Checked out more of the town (person w the Kamala 2024 poster in the window - give it up mate). Then since it's Labor Day went to a picnic hosted by the local workers' association. Nice people, learned just how much tax you can avoid as a property magnate uni.
After a long sleep I've been out exploring Ithaca today, a few for my physical geography colleagues here with some beautiful post-glacial gorges and shale formations!
August 31, 2025 at 7:24 PM
After a long sleep I've been out exploring Ithaca today, a few for my physical geography colleagues here with some beautiful post-glacial gorges and shale formations!