The third annual Fire Island Bear Weekend, organized by Shane Tate, took place from June 15 to 18, coinciding with Cherry Grove Pride, and the centerpiece of Bear Weekend was the Mr. Fire Island Bear contest, on June 17, at Cherry’s, where Dan Jimenez was chosen, out of five contenders, by a panel of five judges, to be Mr. F.I. Bear 2017, succeeding 2016 Patrick Donohue and 2015 Chris Pagano. Homecoming Queen 2017 Ginger Snap hosted the contest, attended by a (human) puppy throughout, and Lenny was the DJ. Ginger’s numbers were “Proud Mary,” “I’m Here” from “The Color Purple,” and “I’m Every Woman.”
Contestant...
