VOA标准英语2008年-California Supreme Court Strikes Down Gay Marri

By Mike O'Sullivan
Los Angeles
15 May 2008

The California Supreme¹ Court has ruled that same-sex couples have the right to marry, overturning a state ban on gay marriage. Mike O'Sullivan reports, California will become the second U.S. state, after Massachusetts, to allow gay and lesbian unions.

 

Outside the San Francisco courtroom, supporters of same-sex marriage applauded the four to three decision by the state supreme court.

The court overturned a gay marriage ban that was based on a 1977 state law and a voter-approved initiative from 2000. Both limited marriage to unions between a man and a woman.

California has a domestic partner law that gives same-sex couples many of the rights of married couples, but the majority on the court said that is not enough, and that sexual orientation² should not be a bar to marriage.

In 2004, San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom defied the state ban and his city issued marriage licenses³ to nearly four thousand same-sex couples before the courts stopped the practice. Two dozen gay and lesbian couples, the city of San Francisco, and gay rights organizations filed suit challenge to law.

One group opposed to the ruling called the majority justices out of touch. Another called the decision arrogant⁴ judicial⁵ activism that it said destroys the civil institution of marriage. Conservative organizations are circulating petitions to put a measure on the November ballot⁶ that would outlaw⁷ same-sex marriage in the California constitution. If the voter measure passes, it would overrule Thursday's decision.

California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is opposed to changing the constitution and said Thursday he will respect the court's decision and uphold the ruling.

Kate Kendell is executive director of the National Center on Lesbian Rights, lead counsel for the plaintiffs in the same-sex marriage case. She says gay and lesbian unions could begin in California in as little as 30 days. She notes that a number of U.S. states have amended⁸ their constitutions to ban gay marriage, and she says same-sex couples in California will now turn their attention to the election.

"It will require showing up on Election Day in November and beating back this amendment⁹, and I think we will be joined by a legion of friends and allies and coworkers and neighbors and friends and family who will say enough is enough," said Kate Kendell. "We no longer want these kinds of amendments¹⁰ in this nation. We no longer want to be divided. We really do want to come together."

The California decision affects only one state, the nation's most populous¹¹. But in this election year, its reverberations will be felt around the country, and it will probably inject the issue of gay marriage into the presidential election.

1 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

2 orientation   

n.方向，目标；熟悉，适应，情况介绍

参考例句：

• Children need some orientation when they go to school.小孩子上学时需要适应。
• The traveller found his orientation with the aid of a good map.旅行者借助一幅好地图得知自己的方向。

3 licenses   

n.执照( license的名词复数 )v.批准，许可，颁发执照( license的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Drivers have ten days' grace to renew their licenses. 驾驶员更换执照有10天的宽限期。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Jewish firms couldn't get import or export licenses or raw materials. 犹太人的企业得不到进出口许可证或原料。 来自辞典例句

4 arrogant   

adj.傲慢的，自大的

参考例句：

• You've got to get rid of your arrogant ways.你这骄傲劲儿得好好改改。
• People are waking up that he is arrogant.人们开始认识到他很傲慢。

5 judicial   

adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的

参考例句：

• He is a man with a judicial mind.他是个公正的人。
• Tom takes judicial proceedings against his father.汤姆对他的父亲正式提出诉讼。

6 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。

7 outlaw   

n.歹徒，亡命之徒；vt.宣布…为不合法

参考例句：

• The outlaw hid out in the hills for several months.逃犯在山里隐藏了几个月。
• The outlaw has been caught.歹徒已被抓住了。

8 Amended   

adj. 修正的 动词amend的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He asked to see the amended version. 他要求看修订本。
• He amended his speech by making some additions and deletions. 他对讲稿作了些增删修改。

9 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

10 amendments   

（法律、文件的）改动( amendment的名词复数 )； 修正案； 修改； （美国宪法的）修正案

参考例句：

• The committee does not adequately consult others when drafting amendments. 委员会在起草修正案时没有充分征求他人的意见。
• Please propose amendments and addenda to the first draft of the document. 请对这个文件的初稿提出修改和补充意见。

11 populous   

adj.人口稠密的，人口众多的

参考例句：

• London is the most populous area of Britain.伦敦是英国人口最稠密的地区。
• China is the most populous developing country in the world.中国是世界上人口最多的发展中国家。