By : Daniel P’Lopez
Photos by: Nathan Noyes
Marquis the Honey Bear grew up in Seattle, Washington. He grew up in a super religious Jehovah’s Witness household—strict as hell. And the only way he could express himself was by fashion and through comedy. He felt it was the only way he could leave a lasting impression on people because he wasn’t allowed to have friends in school who weren’t Jehovah’s Witnesses, or allowed to indulge in things that were considered worldly or vain. He was the big, awkward, religious black kid in school, who was clearly figuring out his journey as a gay guy.
Marquis felt as if his outfits were fashion and comedy; that was how he expressed himself, and it all rolled together. He started doing theater, film, and screenwriting. Once he was able to leave the religion with his family, he was finally able to blossom and turn his interests into the things he does now, such as stand-up comedy, film, and modeling.
He came out when he was fifteen, just as he was leaving the religion, and found his first boyfriend, and fell in love. He explains that it was a beautiful moment and praises his family for being so accepting of him.
He was always into theater and watching TV. He always loved comedy, like Richard Pryor and Monique, and grew up watching sitcoms that he was too young to be watching, and grew an obsession with The Golden Girls.
“I feel like I always felt really inspired, by great comedy, but growing up I didn’t get to see people who looked like me doing that comedy, people who weren’t black, fat, gay in these leading roles and it didn’t feel like in these roles that they are in any way desired or feel like they’re anything but a caricature.”
It made him want to make more roles for himself, the stories that he wanted to see, and that was what got him into comedy and filmmaking, writing plays, and making the move from Seattle to Los Angeles.
His big break was winning Mr. Bear Los Angeles in 2023, and that launched so many things in his career. From getting signed and building the confidence to do stand-up and do films, “it’s the gift that keeps on giving,” said Maquis.
Bear World TV is a subsidiary of Bear World Magazine, a global magazine about bearhood, from personal stories to entertainment, nightlight, and travel; it covers everything. Bear World TV is the media version of the magazine. With five bears covering totally different topics, Marquis brings on comedy and delivers a full-on show that is a variety program, in which he investigates the issues in the gay bear world. Marquis has three episodes at the moment, all written, hosted, and produced by Marquis.
“Some are very ridiculous topics that I tackle, and it’s all about satire, odd fun.”
The other bears, Ravi, Hunter, Alexander, and Joe, truly give the bear Fab Five. Ravi covers travel, Hunter covers nightlife, Joe covers entertainment, and Alexander covers on-screen everything. They all have their own segments, covering the span of bear life and entertainment through their queer bear lens.
Marquis is proud to represent big black queer people on screen who are not just sidekicks or leads in their own platforms or stories, or even desired. And to have his platform be what he wants it to be, and to have his identity enhanced, and not something that feels cliché, or be a voice for everyone.
“It feels good to do comedy from a place of loving who I am and wanting people to also sort of see themselves in the absurdity of being big and queer.”
The show is called Marquis is Barely Informed, and is on every Monday on Instagram and YouTube.
Marquis is a big gamer in his free time and loves dungeons and dragons and the color yellow. He loves being in the pool whenever he can, and he loves movies, always at the AMC, watching something.
You can follow Marquis on social media, @Marquishoneybear
Twitter @MarquisHoney
He also hosts a podcast called Marquis and Eric Dream of Another Gay Podcast, available on all major podcast platforms.