Maybe it is more than an instance. Maybe it is an idea, a world-historical vanguard, light itself. 
actual attempt to answer (cringe)
We’ve been around for three years on a lemmy fork before federation. The lack of federation for years as well as the place we splintered off from (/r/chapotraphouse) already having a unique microculture within Reddit has given this instance, in my opinion, a distinct culture compared to general-purpose and even other hobbyist instances.
Regarding specifics, Hexbear is a vehemently queer-friendly/intersectional anti-sectarian socialist instance. Check us out 
Every time Hexbear isn’t on the Lemmy front page, other instances should be asking “I wonder where Hexbear is?”
Rent free, just as
intended.
I wonder what Ganon's up to
God I love that game
that're pretty much what they're doing, except with their meta "we should defederate with hexbear" threads