Hak-Shing William Tam – a Proposition 8 Official Proponent who was among those responsible for putting Prop 8 on the ballot and who is also an official Defendant-Intervenor in Perry v. Schwarzenegger – filed a motion Friday with U.S. District Court, Northern District of California to withdraw as a Defendant-Intervenor.
See the complete filing at the American Foundation for Equal Right’s website here.
Tam, who is part of the Traditional Values Coalition, wrote in the four-page filing:
“I want to voluntarily withdraw for several reasons. The first reason is because I am fearful for my personal safety and the safety of my family. In the past I have received threats on my life, had property vandalized and am recognized on the streets due to my association with Proposition 8. Now that the subject lawsuit is going to trial, I fear that I will get more publicity, be more recognizable and that the risk of harm to me and my family will increase.”
Gee, I’ve received death threats. I wonder if Ted Olson and David Boies or any of the plaintiffs have received death threats or have been harassed because of their association with this trial? Remember, Kris Perry and Sandy Stier have children, too.
He cites several comments in response to a YouTube video with a racist and threatening message which I will not post here. (See below)
The second reason is he doesn’t “like the burden of complying with discovery requests. I do not like people questioning me on my private personal beliefs.” He doesn’t want to be questioned? But he publicly stated those opinions as the reason why people should vote in favor of Prop 8.
The third reason – “I am tired and I want peace.” The trial will take too long and is already interfering with his ministry.
Lastly – he doesn’t think his withdrawal with materially hurt the case.
The timing is very interesting, coinciding as it does with the Prop 8 proponents asking both Judge Walker and the 9th Circuit to delay the trial show they can show evidence that their witnesses fear for their lives if their faces are broadcast.
UPDATE: TED JOHNSON JUST REPORTED THAT THE 9TH CIRCUIT DENIED THE REQUEST TO BAN CAMERAS. FOR THE FULL FILING, GO HERE.
Here Tam is in that pro-Prop 8 YouTube video he complained about:
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These people are fine being anonymous and taking our rights away but when they are called to be accountable, they wet their pants.
I must say the Asian American population in silicon valley really turned out strong for us. the good reverend is certainly an anomaly.Oh wait, he’s a cry baby too.
Tam’s withdrawal sounds like a well-planned maneuver to me. Pastors are master of stagecraft. I should know – my father and grandfather both excelled at the craft.
A very interesting (and nervy) move! It seems like they’re really pushing the story that the anti-marriage crowd is suffering discrimination.
My guess is that they know that just the opposite will appear true during the trial — that it will be clear that LGBT families are the ones being discriminated against — so they’re doing pre-emptive damage control.
How do you discriminate against Nazis? Against the Klan? Against anti-American traitors? You can’t.
Here’s a clue, Tammy: you don’t want to be ashamed of your bigotry, don’t be a bigot. You don’t want to be shunned for your hatred, keep it to yourself. You want peace, first give it to others.
If you would only leave decent people alone, you’d have all the anonymity, peace and quiet you could want.
Karen -
Is there any way to know if Tam ever filed a police report about being harassed or sustaining property damage?
Are police reports available to the public?
If he is such a victim he should have some evidence of the harm he has endured, otherwise it’s just talk. Hopefully a judge would ask for substantiation or are things bad enough that anyone can use a “gay panic” defense to attack us.
The gays are going to get us! We have to get them first!!
How stupid can this county be?
It is funny that Tammy came from China which moral value is not really a value, why would he bring his value to this country, If he think what he did was right, why would he withdrawn from the trial. I went to furniture store own by chinese, I like her, I think shes funny, but she kept saying, she would have killed me if I was her transgender daughter. Thats what people would do to transgender in China, so sad. I am proud of being myself.
[...] was supposed to be an official Defendant-Intervenor in the case, but he withdrew right before it [...]