Gayle Ruzicka
Encyclopedia
Gayle Ruzicka is a conservative political activist, talk radio
host, and leader in the Utah Eagle Forum.
to a father who was a labor union president active in the Democratic Party
. Ruzicka has stated that her family, particularly her mother, were all active in politics at a grass-roots level. She is the mother of 12 children, grandmother of 20, and an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Mrs. Ruzicka and her husband, Don Ruzicka, live in Highland, Utah
.
issue while living in Idaho, and involvement with the Eagle Forum
during the 1988 impeachment of Arizona governor Evan Mecham
. Ruzicka moved to Utah with her husband and surviving children in 1989. In 1991, she was elected president of the Utah Eagle Forum, the Utah Chapter of the Eagle Forum
.
Ruzicka is claimed to be one of the most influential individuals in Utah's political scene and is famous for her phone tree, used to push her political agenda. In 2004, she was part of the Utah delegation to the Republican National Convention. Additionally, Ruzicka hosts the "The Gayle Ruzika Show" a weekly radio show on KTKK "K-TALK" 630 AM
addressing conservative political issues in Utah.
Ruzicka's power and her positions on a variety of conservative and social issues including homosexuality have not been without controversy. For example in his blog Queer Gnosis, Troy Williams (labeled a "very militant homosexual man" by Ruzicka) recounts that he encountered Ruzicka in the Senate Chambers of the Utah State Capital Building. According to Williams's blog, he and Ruzicka loudly discussed Utah State Senator Chris Buttars
's well documented and controversial comments that compared gay sex to "pig sex."
In 2001, she criticized the Salt Lake City Weekly
for publishing "same-sex" personal ads and other material that she deemed "distasteful." She unsuccessfully campaigned to have the publication removed from public buildings.
During the 2007 Utah legislative session, Ruzicka led the Utah Eagle Forum in the fight to oppose House Bill 358, which appropriated $1 million for the Utah Department of Health to promote the availability of a cervical cancer vaccine.
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
host, and leader in the Utah Eagle Forum.
Biography
Ruzicka was born in Nampa, IdahoNampa, Idaho
Nampa is the largest and the fastest growing city in Canyon County, Idaho, USA. The population of Nampa was 81,557 at the 2010 census. Nampa is located about west of Boise along Interstate 84, and six miles west of Meridian. Nampa is part of the Boise metropolitan area...
to a father who was a labor union president active in the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. Ruzicka has stated that her family, particularly her mother, were all active in politics at a grass-roots level. She is the mother of 12 children, grandmother of 20, and an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Mrs. Ruzicka and her husband, Don Ruzicka, live in Highland, Utah
Highland, Utah
Highland is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States. It is approximately thirty miles from Salt Lake City and is part of the Provo–Orem, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. According to the 2010 census the population was 15,523, a 90.0% increase over the 2000 figure of 8,172...
.
Political life
Ruzicka was involved in politics in a minor way while raising her children, with involvement during the Equal Rights AmendmentEqual Rights Amendment
The Equal Rights Amendment was a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution. The ERA was originally written by Alice Paul and, in 1923, it was introduced in the Congress for the first time...
issue while living in Idaho, and involvement with the Eagle Forum
Eagle Forum
Eagle Forum is a conservative interest group in the United States founded by Phyllis Schlafly in 1972 and is the parent organization that also includes the Eagle Forum Education and Legal Defense Fund and the Eagle Forum PAC. The Eagle Forum has been primarily focused on social issues; it describes...
during the 1988 impeachment of Arizona governor Evan Mecham
Evan Mecham
Evan Mecham was the 17th Governor of Arizona. A decorated veteran of World War II, Mecham earned his living as an automotive dealership owner and occasional newspaper publisher...
. Ruzicka moved to Utah with her husband and surviving children in 1989. In 1991, she was elected president of the Utah Eagle Forum, the Utah Chapter of the Eagle Forum
Eagle Forum
Eagle Forum is a conservative interest group in the United States founded by Phyllis Schlafly in 1972 and is the parent organization that also includes the Eagle Forum Education and Legal Defense Fund and the Eagle Forum PAC. The Eagle Forum has been primarily focused on social issues; it describes...
.
Ruzicka is claimed to be one of the most influential individuals in Utah's political scene and is famous for her phone tree, used to push her political agenda. In 2004, she was part of the Utah delegation to the Republican National Convention. Additionally, Ruzicka hosts the "The Gayle Ruzika Show" a weekly radio show on KTKK "K-TALK" 630 AM
KTKK
thumb|left|The radio tower for KTKK is located in West Jordan, Utah. It is shared with [[KLLB]].KTKK is a news/talk radio station broadcasting out of Sandy, Utah, to the Salt Lake City area. Called, "K-Talk 630", it is locally owned by United Radio....
addressing conservative political issues in Utah.
Ruzicka's power and her positions on a variety of conservative and social issues including homosexuality have not been without controversy. For example in his blog Queer Gnosis, Troy Williams (labeled a "very militant homosexual man" by Ruzicka) recounts that he encountered Ruzicka in the Senate Chambers of the Utah State Capital Building. According to Williams's blog, he and Ruzicka loudly discussed Utah State Senator Chris Buttars
Chris Buttars
D. Chris Buttars is a former Republican member of the Utah State Senate representing the 10th Utah Senate District...
's well documented and controversial comments that compared gay sex to "pig sex."
Political activities
In 2000, Ruzicka was involved with her daughter Kendra's attempt to form a chapter of the Eagle Forum Collegians on the campus of Utah Valley State College (now known as Utah Valley University). Matthew Hilton, the Utah Eagle Forum's attorney, argued that by following the college's non-discrimination policy, the Eagle Forum Collegians would have their First Amendment rights subverted.In 2001, she criticized the Salt Lake City Weekly
Salt Lake City Weekly
Salt Lake City Weekly is a free alternative weekly tabloid-paged newspaper published in Salt Lake City, Utah. It began its life as the Private Eye. City Weekly is published and dated for every Thursday by Copperfield Publishing Inc...
for publishing "same-sex" personal ads and other material that she deemed "distasteful." She unsuccessfully campaigned to have the publication removed from public buildings.
During the 2007 Utah legislative session, Ruzicka led the Utah Eagle Forum in the fight to oppose House Bill 358, which appropriated $1 million for the Utah Department of Health to promote the availability of a cervical cancer vaccine.