Gay-Marriage Foe Sticks to Views on Pedophilia

Allowing marriage would lead to lower consent age for teens

By the Associated Press

Posted Jan 21, 2010 8:32 PM CST

(AP) – A proponent of California's same-sex marriage ban testified today that he thinks gays are more likely to be pedophiles and that allowing them to wed would lead to efforts to lower the age at which teenagers can legally have sex with adults. Lawyers seeking to overturn Proposition 8 called Hak-Shing William Tam in their efforts to prove that bias toward gays fueled the campaign to pass the measure.

Prop 8 sponsors have tried to distance themselves from Tam, even though his name appeared alongside ballot arguments for the measure in voter-information pamphlets during the 2008 campaign. Tam is secretary of a Chinese-American evangelical Christian group whose site contained a link to another article claiming gays were 12 times more likely to molest children; under questioning, Tam said he agreed with that view though he could cite no evidence to support it.

A bus that toured California in support of Proposition 8 is seen in Sacramento, Oct. 20, 2008. (AP Photo)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 47 comments

crazy_baldheads

Jan 27, 2010 4:31 AM CST

everyone has the right to an opinion? what about people's right to lead normal lives....Banning a loving couple from being married and enjoying the benefits of marriage is not your right sidewinder. This is why civil rights should never be left up to vote.

krymsonkyng

Jan 25, 2010 1:17 AM CST

Justify that statement if you care to change my beliefs. If not, well, at least we agreed on the value of standing for what you believe in.

flyjets

Jan 23, 2010 7:40 AM CST

Hey sailor, Let me be the first to say "welcome space traveler" you being new to the planet earth seemed to have formed an opinion in just the one day you have been reading the earth news in the SFO times.

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Politics • Crime & Courts • Science • US

gay marriage • age of sexual consent • Proposition 8 • pedophilia • David Boies • Prop 8 trial • Hak-Shing William Tam • American Return to God Prayer Movement

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Gay-Marriage Foe Sticks to Views on Pedophilia

Allowing marriage would lead to lower consent age for teens

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

gay marriage • age of sexual consent • Proposition 8 • pedophilia • David Boies • Prop 8 trial • Hak-Shing William Tam • American Return to God Prayer Movement

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Supreme Court's Move on Gay Marriage? Maybe Not

Prop 8 ruling is limited to California, providing a potential reason to skip

Court Blocks California's Ban on Gay Marriage

Declares Prop 8 unconstitutional, paving way for Supreme Court decision

Key Ruling Due Today on Calif. Gay Marriage Ban

Judge to rule on gay colleague's decision striking down Prop. 8

Court Hearing Begins on Prop 8 Ruling by Gay Judge

Critics argue Judge Vaughn Walker should have recused himself

Void Prop 8 Ruling: Gay Marriage Foes

Judge's decade-long same-sex relationship a conflict of interest

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Allowing marriage would lead to lower consent age for teens

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Supreme Court's Move on Gay Marriage? Maybe Not

Prop 8 ruling is limited to California, providing a potential reason to skip

Court Blocks California's Ban on Gay Marriage

Declares Prop 8 unconstitutional, paving way for Supreme Court decision

Key Ruling Due Today on Calif. Gay Marriage Ban

Judge to rule on gay colleague's decision striking down Prop. 8

Court Hearing Begins on Prop 8 Ruling by Gay Judge

Critics argue Judge Vaughn Walker should have recused himself

Void Prop 8 Ruling: Gay Marriage Foes

Judge's decade-long same-sex relationship a conflict of interest

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