• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Towleroad Gay News

Gay Blog Towleroad: More than gay news | gay men

  • Travel
  • Sports
  • Law/Justice
  • Celebrities
  • Republicans
  • Madonna
  • Books
  • Men
  • Trans Rights
  • Royals
  • Monkeypox
  • Sophia Bush’s girlfriend ‘proud’ the actress has opened up about coming out as queer
  • Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!
  • Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

Hostile Witness to Be Called in Prop 8 Trial, Plus Day 7 Wrap-up

Andy Towle January 21, 2010

Hak-Shing William Tam, who wanted out of the Prop 8 trial saying he was worried about threats being made against him, but really because he made statements like this about the consequences of same-sex marriage in California…

Tam One by one, other states would fall into Satan's hands. Every child, when growing up, would fantasize marrying someone of the same sex. More children would become homosexuals.

…will be called today by the plaintiffs as a hostile witness:

Lawyers for the couples said they planned to call San Francisco
resident Hak-Shing William Tam to testify even though he has asked to
be dismissed as a defendant in the case, the first in a federal court
to examine if state bans on same-sex marriage illegally discriminate
against gay Americans.

Last week, the lawyers used footage from Tam's taped deposition to
buttress their contention that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional
because it was fueled by deep-seated animosity against gays. They
questioned him about a letter he wrote during the ballot measure's 2008
campaign saying that "other states would fall into Satan's hands" if
gays weren't stopped from marrying in California.

Yesterday, I posted about some of the revelations of Day 7 in the courtroom, which included evidence of Mormon collusion with the Prop 8 campaign.

Shannon Minter at Pam's House Blend has a nice wrap-up of the day.

It included testimony from Stanford University Professor Gary Segura: "Segura cited ballot measures, state and federal laws, hate crime
statistics and opinion polls as evidence that gays and lesbians, like
racial minorities, need judicial protection from discrimination. 'Gays and lesbians do not possess a meaningful degree of political
power. They are not able to protect their essential interests,' said
Segura, who heads the university's Chicano studies program and
co-directs its Center on American Democracy.

And a gay man, Ryan Kendall, who was forced to undergo "conversion therapy" by his parents: "The testimony was targeted at an argument from foes of gay marriage who maintain homosexuality is a choice, not an inherent biological characteristic. 'I knew I was gay, just like I knew I was short and half Hispanic,' said Ryan Kendall, a Denver man who told the courtroom the therapy left him suicidal."

In related news…

Evan Wolfson of Freedom to Marry wrote up a piece on the case published today in the Huffington Post.

Topics: News More Posts About: California, California, Federal Prop 8 Trial, gay marriage, News, proposition 8

Related Posts
  • Fantasy fair featuring Dali, Basquiat returns to life in California
  • Former Roommate Indicted For Murder Of Florida LGBTQ Activist Jorge Diaz-Johnston, One of the Public Faces In State Fight For Marriage Equality
  • Disney Walkout: Employees, Allies Protest CEO’s Response To Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill; “Had They Said Something It Wouldn’t Have Passed.”
  • Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!

    Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Mel B will “always be open” when it comes to her sexuality. The Spice Girls singer, 48, who reunited with her bandmates including the group's ex-singer Victoria Beckham for the fashion …Read More »
  • Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

    Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Megan Thee Stallion is being sued for allegedly creating a hostile work environment and forcing her cameraman to watch her having lesbian sex. The 29-year-old ‘Savage' rapper faces the salacious claims …Read More »
  • Mean Girls star Jonathan Bennett recalls the moment his life ‘changed forever’

    Mean Girls star Jonathan Bennett recalls the moment his life ‘changed forever’

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Jonathan Bennett's life was “changed forever” by his role in ‘Mean Girls'. The 42-year-old actor starred as heartthrob Aaron Samuels in the 2004 cult classic – which followed Lindsay Lohan, Rachel …Read More »
  • Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass gift basket to celebrate coming out

    Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass gift basket to celebrate coming out

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass a gift basket after he came out as gay. The 44-year-old NSYNC star revealed the legendary singer showed his support when Lance decided to reveal …Read More »
Previous Post: « Judge rules Against ‘Protect Marriage’, Allows ‘Courage Campaign’ to Continue Using ‘Sassy’ Prop 8 Trial Logo
Next Post: Glee Goes Sumo Wrestling! »

Primary Sidebar

Most Recent

  • Sophia Bush’s girlfriend ‘proud’ the actress has opened up about coming out as queer

    Sophia Bush’s girlfriend ‘proud’ the actress has opened up about coming out as queer

  • Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!

    Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!

  • Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

    Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

  • Mean Girls star Jonathan Bennett recalls the moment his life ‘changed forever’

    Mean Girls star Jonathan Bennett recalls the moment his life ‘changed forever’

  • Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass gift basket to celebrate coming out

    Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass gift basket to celebrate coming out

  • Relationship status influences heterosexual women’s sexual prejudice towards lesbians

    Relationship status influences heterosexual women’s sexual prejudice towards lesbians

  • JoJo Siwa had a challenge transitioning to new grown-up image

    JoJo Siwa had a challenge transitioning to new grown-up image

  • Liz Hurley defends lesbian sex scene in new movie that was directed by her son

    Liz Hurley defends lesbian sex scene in new movie that was directed by her son

Partner Links

  • Born On This Day: Don Rickles
    Born on this day in 1926. Married to Barbara for 52 […]
  • Nathan Lane says his Hulu comedy ‘Mid-Century Modern’ is more than “the gay Golden Girls”
    Nathan Lane joined Deadline on The Actor’s Side to discuss his […]
  • Princess Kate repeated an Alessandra Rich dress for the VE Day service at the Abbey
    The Windsors gathered at Westminster Abbey earlier today for the service […]
  • “Leonardo DiCaprio did not want to be photographed at the Met Gala” links
    Leonardo DiCaprio actually attended the Met Gala with Vittoria Ceretti, his […]
  • OMG, he’s naked RETRO EDITION: Antoine Basler goes full-frontal in ‘Paris s’éveille’ (1991)
    If you’re a fan of vintage bush, check out Antoine Basler […]

Most Commented

Social

Twitter @tlrd | Facebook | Instagram @tlrd

About

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy
[towleroadmr] [towleroadtn]

Footer

Ptown Hacks 2018

Read

  • Travel
  • Film
  • Law – LGBT Rights
  • Columns
  • Specials

About

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2025 · Log in

×
×