VOA慢速英语:Same-Sex Marriage Faced a Serious Test this Week in the United States

From VOA Learning English, this is IN THE NEWS.
来自美国之音慢速英语，这里是新闻报道。
 
Thousands of peaceful demonstrators gathered outside the Supreme Court in Washington, DC this week. They were there to show their support for or opposition to same sex marriage. They hoped to have an effect on the justices inside who spent two days listening to arguments.
本周，数千名和平示威者聚集在华盛顿特区最高法院外。他们在那里表达自己支持或反对同性婚姻的诉求。他们希望能对进行两天听证的法官造成影响。

One case seeks to block California’s 2008 ballot measure known as Proposition 8. The measure banned same sex marriage in the state.
其中一个案件是寻求废除2008年投票通过的加利福尼亚州8号提案。该措施禁止本州的同性婚姻。

The second case involves a 1996 law known as the Defense of Marriage Act. It defines marriage as only between a man and a woman. It also denies same sex couples certain federal benefits that married heterosexuals receive. They include Social Security survivor payments and certain tax deductions.
第二宗个案涉及一项1996的法律，被称为婚姻保护法。它将婚姻定义为只有一个男人和一个女人之间的婚姻。它也否定了同性伴侣获得异性婚姻确定的某些联邦福利。这些包括幸存者的社保支付和一定的税收减免。

Attorney Ted Olson represented California gay couples who want to marry. He spoke after the hearing.
 Ted Olson律师代表加州想要结婚的同性恋伴侣。他在听证会后说到。

“The broadest that argument we made is that it is just wrong. It is not consistent with the ideals, and the laws and the constitution of this country to take our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters and put them in a class and deny them rights that we give to everyone else.”
我们提出最广泛的论据是，这绝对是错误的。这是不符合理想的，而这个国家的法律和宪法将我们的同性恋兄弟姐妹们归为一类并拒绝给他们那些我们给予其他所有人的权利。
 
Attorney Charles Cooper argued in support of the ban against same sex marriage.
Charles Cooper律师则支持禁止同性婚姻。

“We believe that Proposition 8 is constitutional and that the place for the decision to be made regarding redefining marriage is with the people, not with the courts.”
我们认为，8号提案就是宪法。因为决定重新定义婚姻的是人民，而不是法院。
 
John Lewis opposes the ban. He wants the court to settle the issue once and for all.
John Lewis反对这项禁令。他希望法院能一劳永逸的解决该问题。

“We are Americans. And we are here on the steps of the United States Supreme Court because every single American, without exception, should have the freedom to marry the person that they love.”
我们是美国人。我们所在地方是美国最高法院的台阶上，因为每个美国人都应该有和自己所爱的人结婚的自由，没有例外。
 
Gay rights activist Michelle Bailey was also there.
同性恋权利活动家Michelle Bailey也在那里。

“I was born here. I pay taxes. I deserve equal rights.”
我出生在这里。我交税。我应该得到平等的权利。

Dominic Parisi and his husband Dan Zimmerman also came out to show their support for same sex marriage. Mr. Parisi said the show of support in front of the Supreme Court sends a message to government leaders.
Dominic Parisi和他的丈夫Dan Zimmerman也走了出来，以示支持同性婚姻。Parisi先生说他们出现在最高法院前面是为了表示支持，给政府领导人传递一个信息。
 
“I see the country going much faster than the court. We have been together for 29 years. Actually, I’ve been going faster than the court for many years, so I think it’s time for the court to catch up.”
我看到我们国家的前进速度远远快于法院。我们已经在一起29年了。事实上，我们已经比这个国家快了许多年，所以我认为现在是时候让法院跟上了。
 
Dan Zimmerman said the push for gay rights is a grassroots effort led by the people.
Dan Zimmerman说推动同性恋权利是基层人民的努力。

“I think basically the people are going to have to drag the politicians after them. I am surprised that the country has reached this point, but proud that we have.”
“我认为基本上人民将不得不拽着政治家走。我觉得很奇怪美国已经做到这点，但我为我们拥有的而自豪。”

Recent public opinion studies show a major change in attitudes towards gay marriage over the past several years. Some reports put support for gay marriage at more than 50 percent. Nine states and Washington, DC currently recognize same sex marriage.
最近的民意研究表明，在过去几年人们对同性婚姻的态度的重大改变。有些报道认为支持同性婚姻的占50%以上。九个州和华盛顿特区现在承认同性婚姻。

But even with the change in public opinion, a large number of Americans still resist same-sex marriage. Peter Sprigg is with the Family Research Council, a conservative activist group in Washington.
但是，即使公众舆论在变化，大量美国人还是抵制同性婚姻。Peter Sprigg就职于家庭研究会，华盛顿的一个保守的维权组织。

“Society needs children. Children need a mom and dad. That is why we think marriage should be defined as the union of one man and one woman.”
“社会需要孩子，而孩子需要父母。这就是为什么我们认为婚姻应该被定义为一男一女结合。”
 
Shirley Phelps-Roper belongs to an anti-gay church in Kansas. She also made the trip to Washington to show her opposition.
Shirley Phelps-Roper属于堪萨斯州一个反同性恋教会。她也前往华盛顿以表达她的反对。

“When the Supreme Court does this thing, it’s going to be the last straw. This nation’s destruction is imminent.”
“最高法院的判决将是最后一根救命稻草，这个国家的毁灭已经迫在眉睫，。”
 
Andrew Pugno is with the Protect Marriage Coalition. He worries that the court could rule in such a way that would open the way for gay marriage in all 50 states.
Andrew Pugno就职于保护婚姻联盟。他担心法庭如果这样判决，就会开启美国所有50个州同性婚姻的大门。

“A victory here for us means that this issue returns to the people and their legislatures and their elected representatives where the debate belongs.”
“这里的一场胜利对我们而言是让这个问题回到给争议所在的这些人，以及他们的议会、他们选出的代表。”

Several members of the high court are considering the issue with care, including Justice Samuel Alito.
最高法院包括Samuel Alito在内的几位大法官正在考虑这一问题。

“You want us to step in and render a decision based on an assessment of the effects of this institution, which is newer than cellphones or the internet?”
“你希望我们介入对一项比手机或互联网更新的制度的影响进行评估的基础上做出决定吗？”
 
Rulings in both cases are expected at the end of June. No matter the decision, supporters of same sex marriage outside the court said this week will be remembered as a historic moment in the struggle for equal rights for gay and lesbian Americans.
预计这两起案件的裁决将在六月底出来。无论如何裁决，最高法院外面的同性婚姻支持者表示，本周都将被铭记为争取美国同性恋者平等权利斗争中的一个历史性时刻。