Prop 8 Supporter Can’t Take The Heat

With David Boies and Ted Olson’s federal challenge to Proposition 8 approaching trial date, one of the state’s star defendants is having second thoughts.

Hak-Shing William Tam, who by his own admission spent the majority of his time between January and November 2008 working to pass the gay marriage ban, now says he wants to be removed from the lawsuit. He claims to be worried about safety and negative publicity.

This is laughable considering Tam was proud to be on the front lines in support of Prop 8. Besides the hundreds (thousands?) of hours spent campaigning, he wrote a letter that warned of dire social consequences of marriage equality, stating “Every child, when growing up, would fantasize marrying someone of the same sex. More children would become homosexuals.”

Tam’s action continues a trend of homophobes demanding protection from being identified with their prejudiced beliefs. In Washington and Maine, lawsuits have been filed to prevent the names of supporters of gay marriage opponents from being publicized.

Prop 8 supporters have already fought attempts to have cameras in the courtroom. Judge Vaughn Walker ruled that the proceedings won’t be carried live, but will be uploaded to YouTube.

If your feelings are based on heartfelt principles rather than bigotry, as many homophobes claim, shouldn’t you be able to defend them in public?