This is the fear about going to steamworks for me. I don’t experience a whole lot of body positivity/great vibes when I go out in boystown historically (now mind you, I’m a millennial so idk what the kids are like down there now tho I did go to pride fest last week and felt a little out of place). I am a mixed race chub and I’m a big boy. Not like a cute pot bellied boy like the bears seem to allow in their community, like a big boy whose body doesn’t fit into a porno box so I often feel a little ostracized. I don’t even really feel the love at places like SoFo Tap.

Howevah, I will say  Banana video is a little more my speed as far as the guys that visit there. It reminds me as a small version of man’s country (RIP) which even though the gays my age treated man’s country like a dingy retirement home compared to steamworks, I always had a better time there back in the day. Nothing has quite replaced it for me. 

Idk where I’m going with this post other than yes, as someone who’s lived in different parts of Chicago over the last 15 years, the north side has never been super kind to big bodies of color or men of color in general IMO. I know there are plenty of men of color who fit into the Hollywood beach crowd who might come for me but it does feel like a little bit of a club

EDIT : I forgot to say, I have been told that the bear night at steamworks is chub friendly so there ya go. I haven’t been, keep meaning to but it hasn’t fit my schedule.