The Illinois Bear Pack Collective is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit built for the bear, cub, and critter community, and the people who love us.
We create spaces where you don’t have to explain yourself, shrink yourself, or clean yourself up to belong. Show up as you are. Stay as long as you want. You’re in.
Through events like BearUnion Chicago and the Illinois Bear & Critter Contest, we bring people together to connect, celebrate, and actually meet each other in real life. Yes, there’s music. Yes, there’s energy. Yes, there are a lot of very good-looking humans in one room. But it is also about visibility, leadership, and putting real support back into the LGBTQ+ community.
Because a strong community isn’t built by accident. It’s built on showing up, taking care of each other, and making sure nobody gets left out of the room or the conversation.
And if we can have a damn good time while we’re doing that... even better.