Texas Bear Round Up 20: Get Ready to Boogie
By Bronson Taylor

Dust off your platform shoes, whip out that Afro pick and get ready to “Boogie, Oogie, Oogie”, because it would be a “Shame” if you miss “The Best Disco in Town”. This year Texas Bear Round Up is taking you back to the Discotheque. A “Party with a Purpose” that donates thousands of dollars to deserving local charities; that’s what this year’s Texas Bear Round-Up is all about. Through the help of priceless volunteers, generous donations and willful sponsors, this celebration of bear brotherhood takes place every year to the joy and thrill of those in attendance.

We spoke with Wayne Davis, President Dallas Bears/TBRU and asked what we can expect from this year’s 20th Anniversary event as bears, cubs and admirers unite from all over the globe for a great weekend of Texas sized hospitality.

Wayne, it’s hard to believe that you are about to celebrate the Platinum Anniversary (20 years) of TBRU, to what do you attribute its success?

It is hard to believe we are celebrating the 20th year of the Dallas Bears and the 20th year of our event Texas Bear Round-Up. I am not sure our “Founding Bears” ever thought TBRU would have grown to this level and be such a world-renowned event in the Community. Success, the secret is rather simple. The success of TBRU is the People – our Bear Community and their Admirers. Without our greater Bear Family, there would be no need for this event. While the world and our greater GLBT Community has changed – the basic need for many of us to share in friendships, laughter and fun still resonates in our hearts and minds. Behind the scenes, I can tell you that over the last fifteen years that I have worked with TBRU the members of the Dallas Bears have taken great pride and care in the event. They genuinely care about our Guests (our Family) and want to make sure that every detail is paid attention to and that we look at things from a Guests point of view. I think people would be amazed at how in depth our discussions and planning is for TBRU. (Inside joke, our TBRU Planning Team will remember the 584 emails about cake for one TBRU).

How did the event get its start?

So, here is where I will get into some trouble. We as a Dallas Bears Family are unclear on the first two or three years of the history of the organization. We do not have hardly any historical documents or information. (We would love to find some our history – do if you have information or pictures please email it to president@dallasbears.org). The majority of our Founding Members have joined that great cloud of witnesses, but we do hear from time to time there are some people from those early years that are still around, but live in other places of the country. My understanding is that from very early discussions, the members of the Dallas Bears wanted to host an event and the idea of Texas Bear Round-Up was born that first year of the organization’s history. I have heard conflicting stories that during TBRU 1 there were about 25-75 attendees.

Why do you think Bear Events in general have become so popular?

I think that this goes hand in hand about our Bear Community as a whole. I am part of many segments of the GLBT community. I am active in the Leather, Imperial Court, Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, and Bear and Fundraising Communities. What I have seen and heard is that the Bear Community, at one time, might have felt there was not a place for them. We did not fit into the mold of the stereotypical gay person whether it was about body, clothes, looks, etc. What I have experienced is that the Bear Community, in general, is such a welcoming, accepting, inclusive and including Community. Regardless of size, hair quotient, age, etc… I have seen the Bear Community really ‘stake their claim’ in welcoming All to the table that want to celebrate life, laugh and do something good in their community. While we are not alone in these attributes, as I am proud of all the segments of our great GLBT communities, I do feel that the Bear Community at one time had to struggle to find their own way and to make a place to be accepted. So, as our Community has grown so have our events. They are so welcoming, friendly and the double i’s Inclusive and Including. I just came back from North American Bear Weekend in Lexington, KY and let me tell you – this Community is living and breathing all that is good about our Bear Community. I think we need Bear events. Everything going on in our world today – we need this time of Family, Relaxation, Celebration, Love and a time to not Take Ourselves So Seriously. Can I get an Amen? No matter what technology we create, we still have that human need to be with one another.

I know that TBRU is also known as a “Party with a Purpose” why is that?

It happened by accident when one year very early on the guys had money left over from the event – and they did not feel good about keeping it. So, they gave it to a local charity. While we are throwing a fabulous party for our Bear Community, we are also doing it with an added purpose of doing well in the community. The Dallas Bears Members choose three charities each year and we hold fundraisers during TBRU and that is our “Party with a Purpose.” This is a driving force in the number of members that we now have where the majority of the membership has a deep passion for doing something for others and focusing less on ourselves. It is kind of like a phrase I used at a church I worked at right after college. “It is not that people with the attitude of a servant’s heart thinks less of themselves… it is just they think of themselves less often. So, we have a “Party with a Purpose.”

This year’s theme is Bears on Studio 54, Return to the Discotheque, with a theme like that I am sure it is going to be all out fun. What can this year’s attendees anticipate?

Disco, Disco, Disco. Attendees will get to let their hair down and boogie the weekend away. We have our ballroom entertainment like Bingo, Comedy Show, Game Show Spoofs, Cards Against Humanity Tournament, Great Texas Food, Disco Costume Contest, and our Texas Hospitality Suite (which is the entire ballroom). Free Transportation all weekend and several Excursions. We also one again have the guys form BearDance partnering with us to hold the absolute most awesome Friday Night Fever Dance. Most importantly, and my favorite part, you can count on seeing your extended Bear Family all together during TBRU. I cannot wait to see everyone.

Last year you hosted close to 2000 registrants, how many are you expecting this year and can you still get tickets?

To me it is not about the numbers alone – it is about the heart and soul of the event. We have over 12 countries represented already and I know it will be awesome. I am expecting about the same number of registered attendees. (Some may not know but the city convention bureau tells us there are always about 1,200 to 1,800 additional travelers that come in for the weekend that do not register. Therefore, the event is bigger than it is. Online registration is about to close, but we do accept at-the door registrants. No matter the hour or which day you can arrive – we will welcome our Bear Brothers to join us. Just get here! For more info and complete schedule of events visit www.tbru.org