VOA常速英语:Thailand Considering LGBT Partnership Laws

Visitors to Thailand might get the impression that the country is tolerant towards lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, the LGBT community, but for some, intolerance still exists, and the same-sex partnership law is seen as a milestone.
来泰国的游客可能会觉得这个国家对女同性恋，男同性恋，双性恋和变性人，也就是LGBT群体宽容度很高，但对于一部分人来说，LGBT仍然是不可容忍的，同性伴侣法可视为一个里程碑。

We have problems with the family.They don’t accept who we are, because Thailand is not as open as Western countries.Now we have the law and our families have heard about it, and they are starting to open their hearts for us.It will help get our lives back to normal.
我们和家庭有矛盾。他们不接受我们的样子，因为泰国还不像西方国家那么开放。现在我们有了法律保障，我们的家人也了解这点，他们开始对我们敞开心扉。这有助于我们回归正常生活。

LGBT groups are holding public hearings and rallies across the country ahead of a government decision.It’s a move that caught the attention of Patipant and his partner Pathawee who lived together in the northern capital of Chiengmai.In the past when we first lived together, we had to pretend to live like others and pretend that we were just friends.When we went out in public, we didn’t dare hold our hands to show our affection.Things are changing now because we have more support and we aren’t afraid to hold our hands in public.The bill was first introduced in 2013 and was on its way to becoming law when a military coup sidelined it.
在政府作出决定之前，LGBT群体正在全国各地举行公开听证会和集会。这一举动吸引了Patipant和他伴侣Pathawee的注意，他们一起生活北部的首都－清迈。在过去我们住在一起的时候，我们不得不假装像其他人那样生活，假装我们只是朋友。我们在公共场合的时候，我们不敢牵手表达爱意。现在情况正在发生变化，因为我们有了更多的支持，我们不再害怕在公共场合牵手。这项议案在2013年首次提出，即将成为法律时因军事政变而被搁置一边，

Now Thailand could be the first Asian country to legally recognize same-sex partnership rights as open discussions are once again welcomed or at least tolerated.We open the public hearing stage for every group, for LGBTs, for the government that has to implement the law if it’s passed.We discussed the challenges and limitations that we will have.
现在，泰国可能成为第一个法律上承认同性伴侣关系的亚洲国家，因为人们乐意再次对此进行公开讨论，或者说至少能够容忍这样的议题。我们为所有群体、为LGBT群体、为政府开放公开听证的阶段，一旦这项法律通过，政府必须执行。我们讨论了这样做可能面临的挑战和局限。

If passed and what we need to do to make the law work best in our society.Gay rights groups say the bill is a positive step but they will continue to push hoping that the law is a sign of more rights to follow.
如果法律通过，我们要做些什么来使得这项法律在我们的社会中发挥最佳作用。同性恋权利组织表示，该法案是积极的一步，他们仍然会继续推动此法案施行，期望这个法律可以为同性恋团体争取更多的权利。

For the latest same-sex marriage law, they need more adjustments and changes to make it more complete for the LGBT group.For example, when a partner gets sick, we can sign the documents for his treatment and for adoption to allow us to adopt children.
最新的同性婚姻法需要更多的调整和变化，以使其对LGBT群体更加完善。例如，当伴侣生病时，我们可以签署文件对其进行治疗，并让其能够领养孩子。

Steve Sandford for VOA news in Chiengmai Thailand
美国之音新闻，Steve Sandford 泰国清迈报道。