by Troy Williams
Okay. So I’ve been asked to talk about my third throw down with Gayle Ruzicka. On Friday morning I attended Senator Waddoup’s press conference on the fate of Chris Buttars. Now I suppose being the producer of RadioActive I’m supposed to have all of those objective journalistic impartial ethics. But given the nature of the show, I’ve always considered myself an activist first and a journalist second. So when it was clear that Senator Waddoups was not going to engage the press with questions, I started to feel my inner rage boiling – and then all my objectivity flew out the window and I became uber gay activist and started demanding that Senator Waddoups address the gay community. He wouldn’t look me in the eye – he stuttered and stumbled over his words – and rushed out of the room with cowardly expediency.
And then after I spoke with several reporters I plopped myself down next to Gayle in the senate chambers. She was wearing her Chris Buttars pin. “So let’s talk about pig-sex Gayle. Do you know what that is?” “Troy, you know me, I don’t expose myself to pornography ever.” I responded, “Gayle, the man you support is lying about the gay community. He’s lying about me. He is telling people that gay men engage in ‘pig-sex’, where they defecate on each other during sex. Did you know he is saying these things?” “Troy,” she said, “I have never heard him say these things.” “We have the audio Gayle. You are supporting a man who is spreading lies about the gay community.”
By this time the reporters are all around us and the pictures are being snapped. “Troy, we are in the Senate chambers this is not an appropriate place to have this conversation.” “Oh, were having it Gayle, right here, right now.” She is becoming visibly uncomfortable. “If you’d like to talk about this privately, I’d be more than happy.” “Nope, Gayle, Buttars started this. He is lying about us. You are supporting a liar Gayle. Lying is immoral. Your god doesn’t speak well of liars.” She is slowly trying to work her self away from me – but the room is packed. She shouts out to the others, “Troy here used to volunteer for Eagle Forum.” “That’s right Gayle!” I responded, “I learned everything about activism from you.” And then she marched out.
That’s the best of my memory.
I think defiance and outrage is good. Buttars, Ruzicka, Christiansen and Mero are all on notice. The gay community is no longer going to cower and sit quiet. We will no longer allow them to disparage our community with lies. We will no longer be silent, timid or afraid. It’s a brand new day for queers across the country. It’s a bold new day in Utah. The old power guard is shifting. Even the LDS Church wants to distance itself from Buttars. Governor Huntsman supports the Common Grounds Initiative.
After I left Gayle I walked down with my friend Scotty to talk to the Brazilian gay haters. They are the ones who ran the hate ad last week in the Tribune. I walked up to them and thanked them for their ad. I told them that I never wanted them to be silent. And that I hoped they would place more ads in the paper. And I told them the picture of those two guys kissing was “way hot!”
The more Gayle, Buttars and those Brazilians keep up their hate rhetoric, the better it is for all of us. I don’t want Buttars removed from power. I want him right where he is. We could not have asked for a greater blessing. As long as he keeps opening his mouth we benefit! The more he spreads his toxic bile, the more mainstream Utah will say, “wait a minute. This is not how I feel.”
Don’t be discouraged folks! It’s all for the higher good. It’s all going to be okay. Everything is trending in our favor. It’s a great day to be queer in Utah. Let’s just keep celebrating our lives and loving each other. What better way is there to spend our time?
Awesome.
Go get ‘em, Troy!!!
I’m far enough from Utah to be unaware of all of this going on. But I do know about Buttars. You’d think a guy with the word Butt in his name would have more sense.
well done, sir! just so you know: there’s a straight couple in grantsville who think you are amazing and would consider it a privilege to some day meet you, shake your hand and give you huge hugs.
I *want* to agree with you – that these people are only good for us in the long run. I hope you’re right, but negative forces have been known to win in the end as well. The point I keep making to these people is that they ARE on the losing side of history, so they might as well figure it out now.
Go get em Troy! I’m suggesting all blogs and media outlets post all homophobic statements by anyone under the heading “I Can’t Believe It’s NOT Buttars” in an effort to tie him to all kinds of hate speach and others of his ilk. It’s an effort to outrage him at being tagged.
Gayle is looking as radiant and lovely as ever.
“So let’s talk about pig-sex Gayle.”
I think you’ve found the title for your autobiography.
It is very hard to believe that this insanity is going on nowadays. It wouldn’t be believed as fiction.
Thanks for doing the difficult work of confronting such hatred and bigotry. If this is to change they must be called on their deceit and self-deceit. It is not only difficult, but dangerous. The danger lying in the many traps and temptations to fall into the same psychological dynamic and loose. Your actions bring to mind the court jester, the only one to speak truth to power, not out of a place of power, but from the freedom of breaking the “rules” and norms of comfortable complacency.
Blessings
Sounds like this Gayle Ruzicka person is nothing more than a coward and a bully, because when confronted, she tried to run. Good for you!
You have my admiration for trying to pin Gayle down like that, Troy.
Let ‘em squirm, trying to get them to answer for their irrational positions is the least we can do.
Troy, here’s what I took away from the confrontation:
http://saintless.com/2009/02/20/more-details-from-the-buttars-press-conference/
Wow, Troy, you certainly learned your activism well from the master teacher. Gayle used to say exactly the same thing about obnoxious opponents of Eagle Forum (anybody remember Jan Graham? hmm, I thought not) creating spikes in E.F. membership.
Hey Troy how bout you run for Buttheads seat in the house?
Troy, this is my first exposure to you & your views & we need your voice in UT. I am continually embarrased by UT politicians & their ignorance & bigotry.
as a straight, married man, I have to say you are my hero. I would have loved to have witnessed sister ruzicka squirm. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your work to show all those open-minded enough to listen, the truth.
By the way, who were the “Brazilians”?
Right on! Thank you! Your words are being heard around the world.
Its nice to find the positive out of all this.
why is it that straight antigay men like buttars are OBSESSED with what two men do in the bedroom?
i love you Troy! keep it up!
The only thing I feel is missing from these stories is a super-hero costume.