It's no secret that the biggest homophobes are often also the biggest closet cases. Just look at people like Reverend Ted Haggard, Senator Larry Craig and most gay bashers. Hak-Shing William Tam, one of the most vocal supporters of California's Prop 8 and one of the original defendants in the federal trial currently going on, might just be one of these self-haters.

Tam has made news recently because he has filed a motion to be removed from the defense team. The irony is that the bigoted Tam is citing racial discrimination (in addition to personal safety). However, in reviewing the case, an old letter that he wrote in support of Prop 8 has resurfaced. It's been reprinted on the website of American Foundation for Equal Rights.

TEXT OF TAM PRO-PROP 8 LETTER FROM WILLIAM TAM

Dear Friends:

This November, San Francisco voters will vote on a ballot to “legalize prostitution”. This is put forth by the SF city government, which is under the rule of homosexuals. They lose no time in pushing the gay agenda — after legalizing same-sex marriage, they want to legalize prostitution. What will be next? On their agenda list is: legalize having sex with children. I hope we all wake up now and really work to pass Prop 8. We have only 48 days left. Even if you have church building projects, mission projects, concert projects, etc, please consider postponing them and put all the church man/woman power to work on Prop 8. We can’t lose this critical battle. If we lose, this will very likely happen……

1. Same-Sex marriage will be a permanent law in California. One by one, other states would fall into Satan’s hand.

2. Every child, when growing up, would fantasize marrying someone of the same sex. More children would become homosexuals. Even if our children is safe, our grandchildren may not. What about our children’s grandchildren?

3. Gay activists would target the big churches and request to be married by their pastors. If the church refuse, they would sue the church. Even if they know they may not win, they would still sue because they have a big army of lawyers from ACLU who would work for free. They know a prolonged law suit would cripple the church. They had sued the California government many times before. They sue until they win. They would not be afraid to sue a church. The church would have to spend lots of money in defending the case. The court fight would be long and the congregation would be discouraged and leave — how long are they willing to shoulder the law suit costs. The church may give in and accept them, their membership would grow and take over the church. Then a righteous pastor would have to leave. Such scenarios have happened in Scandinavian countries. At that time, churches would keep quiet, hoping that they won’t be picked as the next target.

If your church is sued, don’t expect others to help your church. You would be in the battle alone, and chances are you would lose. If that happens, whatever nice building your church have built now would become meaningless.

In order not to let this happen, we better team up at the current battle to defeat same-sex marriage. Collectively, we have a chance to win. Right now, each church sacrifice a little. For 48 days, delay your projects, put your resources ($ and manpower) into Prop 8. We’d have great power if we pool our resources together. Let’s win this battle. After victory, your congregation would be energized and go back to the original projects with joy and cheer. They may want to give more and build a bigger building to thank God. Our God would be pleased and bless us more. But if we lose, our congregation would lose heart. They might not want to work as hard. Our opponents would be overjoyed. They would do more and change more laws so as to persecute us easier. Churchs would have a much much harder time to survive. We would be collecting offerings to fight law suits instead of building new buildings. I pray that day would not come. The choice is yours. Talk to the leaders of your church. Your actions would change the history in either direction.

Thanks for your efforts,

Bill Tam

Traditional Family Coalition

Not only is the letter filled with the usual hate and fear mongering of the homophobes, but it includes this little insight into Tam's innermind. According to him (in point #2), marriage equality will lead every child to fantasize about same-sex marriage. Really? Is that so? Because most straight guys I know, who are confident in their own sexuality, don't fantasize about this stuff. Sounds like Tam might be the one with some fantasizes of his own.

Still, we can't count these bigots out. We have seen them come back before and they do have a right-leaning Supreme Court. However this case turns out, we can't let these bigots get away with their vile hatred. Especially when it's their own internalized homophobia.