It interested me, and I was like ‘Well, maybe I should try!’… and I’m really glad I did.” So are we! They were telling me about things that were going on, and they mentioned the Bear competition. The Sunday after the event, we had brunch with them. I got to know Chris and Chris from the Bears of Binghamton. Going to something like that Bear event was amazing. If you’re not a skinny boy, you won’t fit into their ‘clan‘ or ‘group‘. Where I live, in Utica, it’s very closed-minded in some sense– and in the gay aspect, it’s very oriented around skinny boys. I felt welcome in a way that I never felt before. When I went to that event, it opened up my eyes. It was February, and the event was called ‘My Furry Valentine‘. He described to me his first entrance into the Bear World… and how it lead to becoming a role model for the ursine community: “My friend was the first one who brought me to a Bear event. He says of the charity: “They are a great group of people that help out when and where they can.” Chuck Anthony Torres is 22 and lives in Utica, New York– 136 miles east of Rochester. Tony jokes, “Just picture a big Southern redneck and you kinda got me!” This year, the father of two has dedicated a great deal of time and energy to his chosen philanthropic organization, AIDS Care Rochester. He tells me, “I just turned 48 this month, but I think you are only as old as your last trick!” He’s 6’0” feet tall and weighs in at about 285. Whether he’s getting some “Northern Exposure” or hanging out south of the Mason Dixon Line, Tony Winter always commands attention.
He may have been born and raised in the South (and still has the accent to prove it!), but now calls Rochester in upstate New York his home.
Tony Winter is from a small town in Georgia called Milledgeville. New York State Cub 2011 were Tony Winter and Chuck Anthony Torres, respectively. Out of many worthy– and woofy– Contestants, the Winners of the Title of Mr. New York State Bear and Cub Contest, brought to us by The Bears of Binghamton. Inside Merlin’s Bar, however, it was HOT– and hairy! This was the venue for the first ever Mr. On the night of Saturday, April 9th in Binghamton, New York, it was a bit brisk outside.