Citizen Kurt’s Dirty Dozen: Bo Dixon
Bodybuilder and former Colt model Bo Dixon first came to my attention a few short months ago. I became a fan on his Facebook Fan Page and, shortly after, received a friend request from Mr. Dixon himself to join his personal Facebook page (…little ol’ me.) Bo is a proud gay man who shares the same struggles and strives for the same things we all do. He wasn’t always the Hurculean muscle man he is today.
“Growing up, I was Alfalfa from the Little Rascals,” laughs Dixon. He describes his young self as the ugly, skinny kid with glasses, frequently picked on by classmates. When he graduated from college, he was six feet tall and only 137lbs. “I remember buying bodybuilding magazines and looking at pictures of Michael Francois and Tom Prince,” he says. “I admired them because I knew that bodybuilders were treated differently. They had room presence and status. I was tired of being thin and forgettable. I took the magazines to a trainer and told him, ‘I want to look like them’. He said, ‘Okay we’re entering you in the Mr. Alabama contest’ and in six months, I was there.”
Dixon ended up winning the novice class in the Mr. Alabama competition. From then on, he was hooked. Today, Dixon competes as an NPC, one grade down from the professional circuit. He calls bodybuilding a ‘lifestyle,’ trains at least four days a week and eats 6-8 balanced meals each day.
He is also an out and proud man and says bodybuilding helped him in his coming out process. “My muscles have become my suit of emotional armor,” says Dixon. “They have given me the confidence to tackle some of my most challenging life situations.” His physique also helped launch his modeling career as Dixon has modeled for both Colt Studios and Hot House Entertainment.
Married to the love of his life, Dixon enjoys spending time with his husband and dog. When he’s not training for his next bodybuilding competition, he enjoys traveling, working outside on his yard, and reading political news media. He’s also very vocal in his desire for equal rights for all people.
Looks, brains, brawn and compassion. What more could you ask for? Well, I asked him my Dirty Dozen questions, and here are his responses.
1) Whats the Most embarrassing situation you have ever been in? Well this may surprise you because it involves something large, heavy and hanging. I was in Washington DC visiting the Smithsonian. As I walked in deep thought, I noticed that a friend of mine had disappeared. Right then, I stopped to look for him only to feel a heart-stopping heavy pain in my chest. I looked up to the second floor gallery to witness at least 100 people staring at a man that had just walked into the Perpetual Motion Display and stopped the pendulum. That man was me.
2) If you could banish a single person to a deserted island for life, who would it be and why? Osama Bin Laden, for obvious reasons.
3) Whats your favorite movie of all time? May sound silly, but the Wizard of Oz. And recently, The Dark Knight.
4) If you could spend the day at Disneyland with 3 people living or dead, who would you pick? Wanda Sykes, Osama Bin Laden and Kathy Griffin. Can you see us in the tea cups?
5) Whats your favorite word? Altruism. It means unselfish regard for the welfare of others.
6) If you could trade lives with anyone for one week, who would it be and why? I’d want a week in the White House as Obama with my husband. I would have enough pens in my office to never run out of ink signing bills that would make pundits like Bill O’Reilly’s head spin.
7) What is your best attribute/characteristic? I have two that I am proud of equally: First, I’m loyal. Second, I’ve recently discovered my ability to motivate people into action, helping them jump life’s hurdles before they become walls. I like motivating people to make a change for the better.
8) What prominent GLBT personality do you admire? Harvey Milk because he knew how to push the LGBT community without fear.
9) What is your “must see” TV? Today Show, Rachel Maddow, Meet the Press, Law and Order, Jay Leno Show, American Idol and Family Guy. Okay, okay…I admit to tuning in to Glee on occasion.
10) If you could recommend one book for people to read, what would it be? Read the directions…to everything.
11) If you could pick any profession other than your own, what would it be? An honest, ethical politician.
12) What is your favorite quote? “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.” -Dr. Seuss
