美国国务卿约翰-克里在外事机构同性恋雇员活动上发表演讲

So we have an enormous challenge ahead of us, and all of you, every single person here, because you have the privilege of being here in this building, in this freedom, able to talk about this; it is because of that that you actually bear also a larger responsibility. When I voted, as Ken said, in 1996, I don’t claim any great act of courage. Maybe it was because I did represent the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, but nevertheless I was proud to be the only person running for reelection that year in those 14 who actually voted against DOMA. And I am confident that if the Supreme Court adheres to the law and to precedent, that it must be found unconstitutional.
因此，我们面临着巨大的挑战，我们所有人，在座的每一个人，因为你们有幸来到这栋大楼，有谈论它的自由；正因为如此，你们实际上也肩负着更大的责任。当我在1996年投票时，正如肯说的，我并不宣称那是任何勇敢的壮举。也许这是因为我确实代表了马萨诸塞州，但尽管如此，我对自己是当年14个实际投票反对《捍卫婚姻法案》的人中唯一正在竞选连任的人感到自豪。我相信，如果最高法院遵循法律和先例，就必然裁定《捍卫婚姻法案》违宪。

Now, we also know that we’ve made progress where – (applause) – now, if it isn’t, you can take that applause back in your home someday. (Laughter.)
现在，我们也知道我们已经取得了进步——（掌声）——如果不是这样，大家哪天可以收回掌声。（笑声）

Obviously, the landscape has changed remarkably fast. And every one of you here deserves credit for that. You all know your individual journeys in this effort, whether you are a member of the LGBT community or whether you are a supporter and a friend and here in solidarity with it. But everybody understands that things are changing because people have dared to stand up and show solidarity and speak common sense and talk truth to sometimes ugly power.
显然，局面已经发生了极其迅速的变化。在座的每个人都有功劳。大家都知道各自在这一努力中的历程，无论你是同性恋者、双性恋者和变性者群体的一员，还是支持者和朋友到这里来表示对他们的支持。各位都明白，情况正在发生变化，因为人们已经敢于挺身而出和表示支持，对有时堪称丑恶的势力摆事实、讲道理。

And the fact is that we have an Administration today that I am proud to say no longer defends the constitutionality of DOMA. That’s an enormous step forward. We also have a Senate that recently welcomed its first openly gay member, and we have a record number in the House of Representatives. I can remember when the first person came out in the House of Representatives within the service – time of my service in the Senate. We also have seen how “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is now a part of history, and that no American who wants to wear the uniform of their country that they love will be denied the chance to serve the country they love because of whom they love.
实际情况是，我可以自豪地说，我们今天有一个不再为《捍卫婚姻法》的合宪性辩解的政府。这是巨大的进步。我们的参议院最近也迎来了第一位公开同性恋身份的议员，我们众议院的同性恋议员人数也创下了新高。我还记得在我任职——在我任职参议院期间，众议院第一位同性恋议员公开自己的身份的时候。我们也见证了“不问不说”的政策如今怎样成为了历史，并且看到希望穿上自己深爱的这个国家的军服的美国人不会因他们爱什么样的人而被剥夺他们报效所爱国家的机会。

So we’re making progress. And that is the sort of change that we are seeing spread across the country, as state after state breaks down the barrier – the real barriers – to honest equality, not only in the workplace but throughout life.
因此，我们正在取得进步。这就是我们所看到的正在遍及全国的变化，各州相继打破障碍——对实现真实平等的实际障碍，不只是在工作场所，而且是在生活的各个方面。

But we have to say, as we gather here today, that we still do have a distance to travel. Far too many women and men and families are still denied equality under our laws. Two of my former constituents, just to give you an example – I got to meet them – a fellow named Junior and Tim, who were married in Massachusetts, but because of DOMA the Federal Government didn’t recognize their marriage. And so the law treated them differently than if they had been man and woman, married. And time after time, when I met with them – and I did frequently and learn how hard it was that they couldn’t choose the path that they wanted to for themselves – but they also reminded me in the course of their life history what, in fact, marriage is supposed to be all about, which is an enduring love, a love that actually keeps you together even when you’ve been separated and it’s as if you hadn’t been. And I’ll tell you why, because one of them was out of the country and couldn’t come back in and we had to go through hoops to be able to actually ultimately reunite them here in our country because of our immigration laws.
但是，在我们今天汇集这里的同时我们必须要说，我们仍有一段路要走。在我们的法律之下，仍有太多的女性、男性和太多的家庭得不到平等。给大家举个例子，我过去有两位选民，我曾有机会认识他们——一个叫朱尼厄、一个叫蒂姆，他们在马萨诸塞州结了婚，但由于有《捍卫婚姻法》，联邦政府不承认他们的婚姻合法。因此，法律将他们与一男一女的婚姻区别对待。当我一次又一次见到他们时——我确实经常与他们见面，我了解到他们不能选择自己想要的生活道路对他们而言有多难——但他们的人生历程也再次提醒我，婚姻到底意味着什么，它是永久的爱，这种爱即使在分离时也能实实在在地将两人维系在一起，就像两人未曾分开。让我来告诉你们是怎么回事，因为他们其中一人到国外后不能回来，由于我们的移民法律，我们不得不大费周折才最终让他们能在美国团聚。

They’re not alone. A few weeks ago, I was standing right here in this room at my first town hall when a young FSO named Selim Ariturk stood up and told a similar story about his life and his partner, whom he’d met overseas during his first tour. And he had to jump through hoops to be treated fairly. I know that many of you have probably experienced very similar stories, or even experienced them individually.
而他们的情况并非绝无仅有。几个星期前，在我第一次举行现场对话会时，我就站在这个会场，有位名叫塞利姆·阿勒塔克的年轻外交官站起来讲述了他自己和他的伴侣的类似经历，他是在第一次驻外工作期间结识他的伴侣的。他为了得到公平对待历尽艰辛。我知道你们许多人可能都听过非常相似的故事，甚至有过亲身经历。

So the reality is, even as we celebrate, we have to come here today and commit ourselves to the ultimate task of fulfilling equality under the law here in our own country, and we have to be clear-eyed about the challenges that remain. I believe that we are on an irreversible course, and I believe happily that the United States of America is helping to set a global example for how people ought to be treated in life. I think that – I make this commitment to you that as Secretary of State, I will continue to stand right where I have stood throughout my years of elected service, and that begins with how we treat our LGBT colleagues right here in the State Department.
因此，现实是，即使是在我们庆祝的同时，我们今天也必须来到这里，承诺将根据我们国家的法律完成实现平等的最终使命，我们必须清醒地认识到仍然存在的挑战。我相信我们正在走的道路不可逆转，我高兴地认为美利坚合众国正在帮助在全球树立一个在生活中应当如何对待他人的榜样。我认为——我向大家作出承诺，作为国务卿，我将继续坚持我当选公职多年以来的一贯立场，而首先就是怎样对待在国务院任职的同性恋者、双性恋者和变性者同事。

And I think under Pat and Linda’s and other people’s stewardship, we are already doing an outstanding job. Same-sex partners and spouses at overseas missions enjoy the same benefits allowed by law as all of our employees’ families. And we’ve included a category for same-sex partners in our personnel system. It’s now easier for transgender Americans to change the gender on their passport. It may seem like a small thing, but it’s a big deal. And we’ve stated unequivocally that this Department does not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
我认为在帕特和琳达以及其他人的领导下，我们已经在做得非常出色。美国驻外使团中的同性恋伴侣和配偶与我们所有员工的家属一样，享有法律所赋予的同等权益。我们在人事系统中为同性恋伴侣设置了一个专门类别。现在，美国籍的变性者在他们的护照上更改性别更加容易。这看起来似乎是小事一桩，但却是一个重大进步。我们已经明确声明，国务院绝不以性取向或性别认同为由实行歧视。

I’m happy to say that these steps reflect not just the Department view, but President Obama’s view, and President Obama’s commitment to full equality, no matter who you are or who you love. And as Americans send us out to show our face to the world in this Department, we will set an example through our respect for the rights of people everywhere. Having GLIFAA members as part of that American face, frankly, helps us demonstrate our leadership.
我很高兴地说，这些举措不仅体现了国务院的观点，也体现了欧巴马总统的观点，以及欧巴马总统对完全平等的承诺，不分你是谁或你爱谁。当美国人民派我们出去向世界展示我们国务院的风貌时，我们将通过尊重世界各地人民的权利来树立典范。坦率地说，有外事机构同性恋雇员组织的成员来展现我们美国风貌的一个方面，帮助展现了我们的领导地位。