What's your name?: Brian.

How old are you?: Thirty-five.

Where did you grow up?: The Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina

And you’re still there, aren’t you?: Yes indeed.

What's your ethnic background?: Cherokee Indian.

At what age did you first feel an attraction to men?: I realized in Middle School that there was something very unique about me, just took a few years to really figure it all out.

When did you come out?: Freshman year of college.

What do you do for a living?: I have been everything from a Flight Attendant to a Fireman.  Right now I am on a radical sabbatical as are so many others in the US. I’ve never been afraid to try something that I have dreamed or imagined, just jump and take a leap of faith! My friends would all tell you that I have never been one to hold back trying something new and.

Are you single?: Yes. I don't really like being single, but I’m keeping faith that all of the good ones really aren't taken!

What qualities do you find attractive in a man?: I am definitely attracted to furry, stocky men with facial hair. Beyond physical, a great sense of humor, adventurous, and easy going.  The ideal man would be masculine, but sweet as a teddy bear! He would have to love going to the beach, sitting by the fire exchanging campfire stories, cooking out, walking on moonlit shores, and cuddling as we sleep in.

Do you consider yourself good looking?: Hmmm, that is a hard one to answer - I guess that I must have some qualities that catch the eyes of some?  Maybe I just make up for it with personality?  I am very outgoing and I think that helps.  I’m a nice guy who’s not so much about looks as being humble and learning about myself through others.

What's your best feature?: I think my best feature would be a kind soul with many life experiences that have kept me modest.  If I can brighten someone's day and make the world a little bit better one   small step at a time, then I think that the effect will surely be   exponential for greater good of all.

Are you a bear or a cub? What's the difference anyway?: I am furry but not furry enough to be a bear yet. I love bears though, and definitely don't mind filling the shoes of a cub until I’m ready for the part. I guess that I am a "Bear Understudy."

What hurts your feelings?: People hurting each other and withholding love. Life is too short to hold onto past hurt, heartache and pain. We as the gay community have enough mountains to climb without having to fight one another.

Do you have bear friends? Do you go to bear events?: Yes, I love my bear brothers of the Carolina Bear Lodge. I attend their events in addition to having a very close knit group of quality bear buddies.

What makes a bear a bear?: When I think about a bear, I picture…furry, stocky, friendly, can talk about anything, great stories, not afraid to eat and be social (a huge plus in my book), knows how to have a great time, loves to have fun, great to cuddle with, looks out for his friends, and doesn't take himself too seriously. Someone who is masculine, but is secure enough to be able to camp it up in a crowd.

What astrological sign are you?: Gemini.

I read you're into photography: When I was in High School I never felt like I really fit in at a school where the focus was always on sports.  I signed up for a graphics arts and photography course one year. When I got into it, I felt like I had found my true calling. I loved spending hours taking pictures, and hours in the dark room developing them - black and white of course. That was back in the day when the camera didn't hook up to a computer. I still love taking photos but Flickr has replaced the old walk-in closet darkroom I built at home when I was a kid.

Are you into music?: Yes, I have a Baby Grand Piano and it is a great retreat for me. I also love picking my brain when I am at the keyboard and coming across something that sounds very familiar from my childhood. I love all kinds of music and my iPod playlist shows it. Everything from Moulin Rouge to country to 80's soft rock to southern gospel and love songs.  Of course I love Dolly, Cher, 60's   soul, Sarah McLachlan, and a whole list of songs that were popular in   my early twenties that I endearingly call my "Coming Out Collection."

Do you have a temper? If so, what triggers it?: I can get a little moody as I guess that everyone can. I wouldn't really say that I have a temper per se, I just don't like being backed into a corner.

When are you having the most fun?: A great bunch of folks around the dinner table, laughing, conversing, and enjoying themselves. I love stopping to talk to a complete stranger and learning all about them and hearing their stories.  Bear events and meeting new people.

Are you generous?: Yes, but it takes me a while to trust and have faith.  It seems as though it’s real easy to get a little "gun shy" from past experiences in the gay world.

If you were a bear superhero, what would be your power?: I guess that I would be the Entertainer Bear; a modern day, masculine Auntie Mame (Rosalind Russell, of course). Making sure that the show went on without a hitch and that everyone was at peace and having a great time!

Are you a family kind of guy?: Definitely. I love my family very much and they have been a vital part of my life. I feel like the Bear community is definitely my family too, as interesting and as unique as we are still a family.

Give us a quote: "Live, Love, Laugh, and Be Happy!"

Freestylin: Since I was old enough to remember, I have been a huge Dolly Parton fan.  A few years ago, it was the opening season of Dollywood and I was asked to be the driver of a car in the parade where Dolly was going to be the Grand Marshall (as she does every year in Pigeon Forge, TN.)  The car that I was driving just so happened to be that of Little Miss   Cherokee…she sat beside me. Even though it was early spring, it was unusually warm. I was sweating and waiting in the line-up when an old grey Ford AstroVan belonging to the Pigeon Forge Police Department pulled up and stopped beside us. I turned as a window rolled down on the passenger side. I just about fell over dead, as Dolly Parton’s head popped out, looking just as beautiful as on TV. She giggled and said, "Are you a Little Indian Princess?"  I was ready to proudly scream, "Why, yes, I am!"  Then I realized she was talking to the young lady riding on the car. At that moment for the first time in my life, I was speechless!  All my life I had waited to meet Dolly in person and I could not think of one word to say as my mouth hung open.  For just a second, I thought Dolly had stopped outed me to the world!

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