The association ORSI ITALIANI (ITALIAN BEARS) - Girth & Mirth began its activities at the beginning of 1992 as the italian reference point of the international Girth & Mirth movement.
Girth & Mirth as expression of a full acceptance of our own bulky bodies, but also of the external signs of maturity, in particular beard and body hair.
An Orso Italiano, Italian Bear, is gay, big, hairy and happy to be so, even if that goes against the stereotype of a gay person slim, smouth and young imposed on us by the gay media.
The success of all the Girth & Mirth groups in the world and of magazines such as BEAR or BULK MALE and the number of people contacting our group witnesses the presence all over the world of many gay men who don't recognize themselves in the very restrective image proposed to them by media, other gays and first of all by the publicity and fashion world.
We are "natural" men, happy with our age, our big bodies,our body hair and proud to be gay .