SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A proponent of California's same-sex marriage ban who warned that gay rights activists would try to legalize sex with children if Proposition 8 did not pass is expected to be called as a hostile witness Thursday for two same-sex couples suing to overturn the measure.

Lawyers for the couples said they planned to call San Francisco resident Hak-Shing William Tam to testify even though he has asked to be dismissed as a defendant in the case, the first in a federal court to examine if state bans on same-sex marriage illegally discriminate against gay Americans.

Last week, the lawyers used footage from Tam's taped deposition to buttress their contention that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional because it was fueled by deep-seated animosity against gays. They questioned him about a letter he wrote during the ballot measure's 2008 campaign saying that "other states would fall into Satan's hands" if gays weren't stopped from marrying in California.

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