Body Perfect: Paris Strong

Bob Paris (born Robert Clark Paris in 1959) has become a famous writer, actor, public speaker, and gay civil rights activist.  But before all of that, he had already become one of the most celebrated body builders of all time.  Since rising to fame in the early 1980's, Bob Paris has graced the covers of scores of magazines worldwide.  In an era of enhanced drug use with many sportsmen, Bob pushed for drug testing at the professional level. He retired from bodybuilding in 1991 at the top of his game.

“Every gay and lesbian person who has been lucky enough to survive the turmoil of growing up is a survivor. Survivors always have an obligation to those who will face the same challenges.” Bob Paris

Bob blended his artistic and athletic backgrounds to create a classic physique emphasizing the beauty of the male form over simply mass muscles. His workout books are considered among the best in the field because they apply common sense to the mechanics of exercise and diet, and explore the deeper aspects of true fitness and self-esteem.

 

In the July 1989 issue of Ironman magazine, Bob Paris came out to the media as a proud gay man.  He and his then-partner Rod Jackson (Jackson once posed for a Playgirl centerfold) had a Unitarian commitment ceremony in 1989.  He started successful non-profit companies, lectured on a wide variety of issues and topics, and made many television, radio, newspaper and magazine appearances. In 1995, the couple separated.  Today, it's reported that Mr. Paris lives with his spouse (were legally married after Canada equalized the marriage laws in 2003) Brian near Vancouver, British Columbia.

 

Below: Bob Paris today.