INTRODUCTION:

Recently, pop superstar Elton John married his long time gay partner David Furnish in London. Hardly any fuss was made, especially from conservative groups.

In 1989, when bodybuilding superstar Bob Paris, a former Mr. Universe and Mr. America married his gay lover, international male model/amateur bodybuilder, Rod Jackson, all hell broke loose.

This is their story.

Former Mr. Universe & Mr. America, Bob Paris, in his prime.

GAY BODYBUILDERS: MARRIAGE & DIVORCE

Rod & Bob in happier times

Bob Paris:

Bob Paris’s father was a physically abusive alcoholic who preyed on people who were weaker, women and children.

Bob discovered weight lifting at the end of his sophomore year in high school. He was attracted to the discipline required in the field, in order to maintain a healthy physique.

Bob relocated to Los Angeles, he knew the bodybuilding scene was in Venice and Santa Monica; he also wanted to be an actor.

His sexual experience was limited but from one experience with a woman in high school, he knew heterosexual sex didn’t feel natural to him.

Bob began competing in and winning bodybuilding competitions. The fact that he was gay was no secret in bodybuilding circles.

He was gorgeous, with an awesome physique and handsome face that he was being billed as “The Tyrone Power With Muscles.” Tyrone Power is probably the most handsome actor in film history.

Organizers suggested, he be paired with a woman during charity events and parties.

Bob decided to tell his parents he was gay, his mother went into a deep depression. His dad remained silent. When he did comment on Bob’s sexuality, he made the following comment, “I understand what you’re going through being gay because I’ve been an alcoholic; I know what it’s like to have a sickness.” The statement sent Bob over the top and he and his father got into a big argument. Eventually, both parents would come around.

Rod Jackson-Paris:

Rod also came from an abusive household, At 19; while attending college and modeling part-time, he was still conflicted about his sexuality and started dating Debbie. When they started making out, Rod stopped because he became too nervous. Despite buying gay porn magazines on the sly, Rod would eventually consummate his relationship with Debbie; he was on cloud nine and thought he ‘was cured.’ The feeling didn’t last long and Rod moved back on campus. He would have two kissing encounters with two straight men.

Rod’s real coming out, came at a gay club in Denver. Around this time, the Wilhemina modeling agency in New York offered him a modeling contract. Rod was scared of going to New York and competing with other models so he declined.

Rod started working as a manager at a gym. Mr. Universe, Bob Paris was in town to do a bodybuilding seminar. When Rod spotted Paris, his heart skipped a beat as they locked eyes. After the seminar, Bob flew back to Los Angeles. A few months later, Rod relocated to Hollywood to pursue modeling. Rod ran into Bob, they conversed, agreed to have dinner and went on a few dates. They would eventually fall in love and move in together.

Together:

Rod was making money modeling in Los Angeles. He took some test shots for Playgirl magazine. The response was overwhelming; Rod got calls from men and women.

Meanwhile, Bob met with an agent to try and pursue a career in film as an action hero. Before the meeting was over, the agent asked Bob if he knew of any leading men types with blonde hair. Bob referred Rod. It didn’t occur to Bob that the agent was using him to get to Rod.

When Rod met with the agent, he didn’t waste any time telling Rod, I’ll put you up in a guesthouse, give you a Mercedes and I’ll groom you for leading men roles. All you have to do is dump Bob; Rod declined and left the restaurant.

Bob and Rod’s love was so intense; they wanted to share their love with the world. They decided to marry; this was unheard of in the late 80’s. But they found the courage to marry, exchanging vows in a Unitarian service in 1989. Many family members declined to attend after receiving invitations. One uncle wrote a letter to Bob, saying, “We love you but we hate your sin.”

Their wedding made headlines all over the world.

After the wedding the press hounded them and the phone wouldn’t stop ringing. The couple appeared on Oprah, Phil Donahue and Joan Rivers. The tabloids also ran the story and the couple appeared on the cover of the ‘Advocate.’

When they traveled to Europe, in one city, a couple of people jeered them, calling them fags. A London tabloid implied that Rod married Bob for his money and that Rod was ‘a broke blushing bloke.’

In Bodybuilding competitions, despite being in the best shape of his life, Bob placed last and audience members jeered him, calling him ‘pretty girl’ and ‘faggot.’ He was blacklisted when he left the sport.

The marriage hurt both of their careers. Although they managed to purchase a home, they were broke, seminars and endorsement deals evaporated.

Both men would eventually author a string of books on their life and gay activism. They also made videotapes for gay teens, dealing with teen suicide and homophobia and they opened up a foundation for gay youth.

Divorce:

On July 18th, 1996, in a statement faxed to news agencies, Bob Paris and Rod Jackson-Paris said: “Rumors have been circulating in the gay community regarding the status of our relationship, and while neither of us is comfortable discussing the very private aspects of our lives. For the record, we have been broken up for the last year and were separated for a year before that. The past two years have been an extraordinarily difficult time for both of us as we have faced the dissolution of our marriage. The details and reasons for our separation are complicated, painful and personal. We both remain committed to the concept of equal marriage rights and we both believe in the magic of love.”

Source: “Straight From The Heart, A Love Story,” by Bob Paris and Rod Jackson-Paris

ROID RAGE:

Kristy Ramsey had grown tired of her fiancés, Gordon Kimbrough's (pictured above) indiscretions with other women. A year earlier, she had caught him kissing another woman in his Corvette and promptly kicked the woman’s butt.

Ramsey and Kimbrough were both bodybuilders, they had won the 1991 USA pairs bodybuilding title and they appeared on local talk shows discussing the sport.

Kimbrough was meek and shy until he began taking steroids. The steroids made him short-tempered and violent.

Ramsey could no longer tolerate his temper and his affairs. She decided to end the engagement.

She confronted him at his apartment. He went crazy, yanking her blonde hair, strangling her with a cord and stabbing her until he killed her.

At the time of his arrest, Kimbrough was also being investigated for being involved in a bay area steroid ring that distributed steroids to bodybuilders and athletes.

On February 1, 1995, Gordon Kimbrough was convicted of 1st degree murder and is currently serving 27 years to life.

Source: “Drugs In Sports” by Janet Bohan. Photo credit: Muscle Photos.com

BODYBUILDING FUGITIVES:

Married bodybuilders Craig Titus and Kelly Ryan (both pictured above) disappeared from Las Vegas after they became suspects in the killing of their roommate, whose body was found in a burning car off Blue Diamond Road.

The fugitives were arrested near Boston. Authorities believe a love triangle between their roommate, Melissa James and the two fitness buffs was the motive for murder.

Authorities claim, it wasn’t difficult for investigators to track the couple down because they pretty much sealed their fate by telling friends where they were going and those friends talked to police.

Apparently, the bodybuilders had announced their intention to meet an associate in Boston who would help them liquidate their assets and leave the country. Right from the beginning, the Boston area is where police started searching.

Police collected all sorts of evidence at the scene where the murder victim was discovered in the trunk of a burned out car directly linking the bodybuilders to the crime.

Police believe the murder victim; 28-year old Melissa James did not die as a result of the fire. An autopsy revealed marks on her neck, suggesting she had been strangled several hours before the arson.

Titus and Ryan are both in Federal custody and were returned back to Las Vegas to face trial for murder.

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