Prop 8 Trial Coverage Day 8: Roundup

UPDATE 1/22/10: A summary from the American Foundation for Equal Rights, the group behind the challenge to Prop 8 (read full transcript of hearing here):

As an Official Proponent of Prop. 8, Tam is responsible for putting the initiative on the ballot and taking over its defense in court by intervening in Perry v. Schwarzenegger. On the stand today, he confirmed that he “supervised the preparation of the appropriate language of Proposition 8.”

Boies questioned Tam about several statements against marriage equality, including a pro-Prop. 8 email that stated: “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;" that "The San Francisco City Government is under the rule of homosexuals” and that gay men were twelve times more likely to molest children.

The court has previously viewed Yes on Prop. 8 ads urging voters to “protect our children.” Now it’s apparent that this message was working in concert with the type of discriminatory communications we heard today from an Official Proponent of Prop. 8.

"That [Same-sex marriage] would lead to incest. That would lead to polygamy. If this is a civil right, what would prevent other groups form asking for the same right,” Tam testified in court today.

"It is very important our children won't grow up to fantasize or think about ‘should I marry Jane or John when I grow up,'” Tam testified in court today.

Tam was also questioned in court about a media interview he gave regarding his work to pass Prop. 8 in which he said: “We hope 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.”

Tam also testified to working with ProtectMarriage.com, the lead pro-Prop. 8 campaign committee, on signature gathering, messaging, rallies, debates, weekly grassroots conferences and in signing a "statement of unity" between himself and the campaign, which laid out a formal campaign structure including him and his organization, the Traditional Family Coalition. He also noted that he spent the majority of his working hours on passing Prop. 8 from January to November 2008.

Today also continued the cross-examination of plaintiff expert Dr. Gary Segura, who testified yesterday about the relative political power of gays and lesbians as a class of citizens, and their level of political vulnerability.

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Original Post 1/21/10 9:00 PM PST

Guest blogger Davina Kotulski will be back blogging tomorrow from the court room - due to a last minute scheduling change of the trial, she wasn't able to cover it today. So here's a good roundup of blogs and articles about today's hearing. (See day 8 preview post.)

• Prop 8 Trial Liveblogging Day 8: Daily Summary
• LA Times: Gays vulnerable at ballot, professor argues at Prop 8 trial
• LA Times: Prop 8 proponent says he argued that gay marriage could lead to legalizing pedophilia
• Lisa Leff for AP: Prop 8 backer stands by views on pedophilia
• Mercury News Living Coverage Day 8
• Fire Dog Lake coverage
• Shannon Minter: Perry v. Schwarzenegger Proceedings, Day 8