Asian American Representation on Both Sides of the Prop 8 Trial

The trial for California’s Proposition 8 is in full swing, and even though you can’t watch the taping right now, rest assured that there is a fair deal of Asian and Asian American representation on both sides. On one side, the testimony of witness Helen Zia, an author who has previously written on Asian American Civil Rights and Wen Ho Lee, were thrown anti-gay slurs when campaigning against the measure with her partner.

On the other side, Dr. William Tam, a driving force to get Asian churches in the suburban areas to hold pro-Prop 8 rallies, hoping “to convince Asian-Americans that gay marriage will encourage more children to experiment with the gay lifestyle and that the lifestyle comes with all kinds of disease.” (ALL KINDS, folks! Like syphilis! And leprosy!) He has since been asked to be excused from the Prop 8 trials, for fear of his and his families life. I obviously don’t have much sympathy for the guy, but what do I know? I’m just “encouraging children to experiment with the gay lifestyle.”