Bear Proper
Phrase used to denote the presence of an actual bear (animal) when in a group of gays; where the word bear would invoke the image of a large hairy man instead. Most frequently used in areas similiar to the Poconos where both bears and bear propers exist.
Did you see the bear that just ran across the street into the woods? Yeah there are a lot of big hairy guys here. No not a bear; a bear proper