There is exciting news for the Bear community and its friends across the French Riviera.
Alexandre Paulmier, known on Instagram as @mister_bear_alex, has announced the creation of a new association in southeastern France: Bear French Riviera. Gay French Riviera is pleased to help spread the word about this new community initiative and its inaugural gathering in Nice.
The idea behind Bear French Riviera has grown from several years of experience within the Bear community, but even more importantly, from the friendships, encounters and shared experiences that have made that community so special. Alexandre and the friends joining him want to channel that experience into an organization that is welcoming, inclusive, community-focused and committed to creating a genuine sense of belonging.
And importantly, Bear French Riviera isn’t intended to be about fitting into a particular physical stereotype.
Whether you identify as a Bear, Chaser, Bear admirer or simply feel connected to Bear culture, the association aims to create a place where people can meet others, develop friendships, share experiences and feel comfortable being themselves.
At its heart, the organization says it wants to promote camaraderie, authenticity, kindness, freedom and sharing.
More Than Just Social Events
While meeting up, making friends, going out and having a good time will certainly be part of Bear French Riviera, the association’s ambitions extend considerably further.
The organization intends to advocate for the rights and dignity of gay and Bear communities while challenging discrimination and prejudice in its various forms. That includes homophobia, fatphobia, stigma surrounding physical appearance and other forms of exclusion that can affect people within LGBTQ+ communities.
Body acceptance is another important part of its proposed mission. Bear culture has traditionally celebrated a diversity of bodies and appearances, and Bear French Riviera wants to encourage greater self-acceptance while reinforcing the message that there is no single physical definition of what a Bear—or anyone else—should look like.
Health and wellbeing will also have a place within the association’s activities, with an emphasis on information, prevention, screening and access to appropriate sexual and general health resources.
The broader objective is to build connections and solidarity among members of the community while keeping alive the social and cultural aspects that make Bear culture so distinctive.
In other words, there should be plenty of opportunities to meet, socialize, party, laugh, make new friends and enjoy the Côte d’Azur together.
Building a Community on the French Riviera
For those living on or regularly visiting the French Riviera, the creation of Bear French Riviera adds another opportunity for LGBTQ+ people to connect locally rather than always having to travel elsewhere to find established Bear communities and events.
For those living on or regularly visiting the French Riviera, the creation of Bear French Riviera adds another opportunity for LGBTQ+ people to connect locally rather than always having to travel elsewhere to find established Bear communities and events.
The Côte d’Azur already has a diverse LGBTQ+ community, particularly in Nice and throughout the surrounding Riviera. A dedicated Bear, Chaser and Allies association could provide another space within that broader community—one where people can come together around shared interests while remaining open to different identities, ages, appearances and backgrounds.
That emphasis on openness is particularly important. Bear communities themselves are diverse, and Bear French Riviera says its objective is not to create another set of expectations about how somebody should look or behave in order to belong.
Instead, the message is straightforward: come as you are.
The Inaugural General Assembly
The next step is the official launch of the association.
The next step is the official launch of the association.
Bear French Riviera is inviting members of the community and anyone interested in supporting its objectives to attend its inaugural General Assembly on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at 8:00 p.m.
The event will take place at:
Nice LGBTQIAP+ Center
Rue Cathy Richeux
06300 Nice
The General Assembly will be followed by a cocktail reception, giving attendees the opportunity to meet Alexandre, the founding team and other members of the community.
For anyone who has been looking for a way to become more connected to the Bear community on the French Riviera, this could be the beginning of something new.
And perhaps that’s ultimately what Bear French Riviera is about: creating a community where people can find friendship, acceptance, solidarity and a good excuse to get together.
Gay French Riviera wishes Alexandre and the entire Bear French Riviera team every success as they begin this new chapter. We look forward to seeing where it goes.
Saturday, October 10, 2026 — 8:00 p.m.
Nice LGBTQIAP+ Center, Nice
Inaugural General Assembly followed by a cocktail reception
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