VOA标准英语2008年-Thousands of California Gays Expected to Wed Af

By Mike O'Sullivan
Los Angeles
12 June 2008

Thousands of same-sex weddings are expected in California after June 16, the day the California Supreme¹ Court decision legalizing same-sex marriages takes effect. VOA's Mike O'Sullivan reports from Los Angeles, the gay marriage issue is not yet settled in the state. Voters will weigh in on the question in November.
　

Actor T.R. Knight2, left, stands with his companion during a celebration of the California Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriages, 4 June 2008

In a 4-3 decision May 15, the California Supreme Court struck down a voter-approved law that restricted marriage to a man and woman. The court said the state constitution's guarantee of equal rights gives same-sex couples the right to marry, so the law banning gay unions, approved by voters eight years ago, is unconstitutional.

The ruling was good news for Michael Galluccio, 46, and his partner, Jon Holden Galluccio, 44. The same-sex couple lives in suburban³ Los Angeles.

Michael and Jon met in college and have been together for 26 years. In the 1990s, they adopted two HIV-positive babies, named Adam and Madison, as well as Madison's older sister, Rosa. Today, the men are also grandparents, and live with their two younger children. Michael says they plan to marry.
　

Michael Galluccio, left, and his partner, Jon Holden Galluccio

"For me personally, it is so much about right, what is right and what is fair and what kind of world I want to raise my kids in," he said. "And I do not want to raise my kids in a world where their family is different just because the two parents who happen to be in love are both men."

In 2007, the couple registered in California as domestic partners, but Jon says that is not enough.

"There is only one accurate way of describing what we have with each other and with our family, and that is marriage," Jon added.

The dispute over same-sex unions made headlines in 2003 and 2004. The Massachusetts Supreme Court authorized⁴ gay marriage in that state, and then the city of San Francisco issued marriage licenses⁵ to nearly 4,000 same-sex couples in defiance⁶ of California law.

The California Supreme Court voided those unions because they violated the state law that limits marriage to a man and a woman. With the law overturned, on the evening of June 16, California will join Massachusetts as the second U.S. state to allow gay marriages.
　

Lorri Jean, Executive Director of the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center

Lorri Jean, Executive Director of the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center, calls the ruling a landmark⁷ that she says ends decades of discrimination in the state. But the issue is not settled.

"We spent a number of days celebrating this decision," she said. "It was so great. Now we are preparing for battle because there are right-wing forces in our state and around the country who want to try to take this right away from us. And we are going to fight them with everything we have got."

The decision outraged⁸ some. Opponents have collected petition signatures to qualify a measure for the November ballot⁹ that would change the state constitution, limiting marriage to a man and a woman.
　

Robert Tyler, general counsel for the conservative group Advocates for Faith and Freedom

Robert Tyler, general counsel for the conservative group Advocates for Faith and Freedom, helped with the petition drive in suburban Murrieta, California. He says gays and lesbians have always been able to marry, just as anyone else can.

"They can get married," he explained. "They just cannot marry another person of the same gender¹⁰. You know, you have the same rights as anybody else because marriage is a relationship between a man and a woman, and it always has been."

Tyler says governments already place restrictions¹¹ on who can marry, excluding unions, for example, between close relatives, and banning polygamy.

"Why do we do that? Why is polygamy no longer acceptable in America? Because we know it is not the best thing for the kids," he added. "We know it is not the best thing for families. We know it is the best thing for society."

A total of 27 U.S. states have amended¹² their constitutions to limit marriage to a man and woman. If California's measure passes, the legal question will be closed in the state. Gay marriage will be banned here. If the measure fails to pass, same-sex marriages will continue.

California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger does not support same-sex marriages, but he opposes changing to the state constitution to ban them.

A recent survey by the Field Poll organization shows a slight majority of Californians support the right to same-sex marriage, but the pollster says the vote in November could go either way.

Thousands of gay and lesbian couples are expected to tie the knot in California. If the proposal to change the state constitution passes, the courts will decide the status of the gay and lesbian couples who have already married.

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 knight   

n.骑士，武士；爵士

参考例句：

• He was made an honourary knight.他被授予荣誉爵士称号。
• A knight rode on his richly caparisoned steed.一个骑士骑在装饰华丽的马上。

3 suburban   

adj.城郊的，在郊区的

参考例句：

• Suburban shopping centers were springing up all over America. 效区的商业中心在美国如雨后春笋般地兴起。
• There's a lot of good things about suburban living.郊区生活是有许多优点。

4 authorized   

a.委任的，许可的

参考例句：

• An administrative order is valid if authorized by a statute.如果一个行政命令得到一个法规的认可那么这个命令就是有效的。

5 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

6 defiance   

n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗

参考例句：

• He climbed the ladder in defiance of the warning.他无视警告爬上了那架梯子。
• He slammed the door in a spirit of defiance.他以挑衅性的态度把门砰地一下关上。

7 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

8 outraged   

a.震惊的，义愤填膺的

参考例句：

• Members of Parliament were outraged by the news of the assassination. 议会议员们被这暗杀的消息激怒了。
• He was outraged by their behavior. 他们的行为使他感到愤慨。

9 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。

10 gender   

n.（生理上的）性，（名词、代词等的）性

参考例句：

• French differs from English in having gender for all nouns.法语不同于英语，所有的名词都有性。
• Women are sometimes denied opportunities solely because of their gender.妇女有时仅仅因为性别而无法获得种种机会。

11 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

12 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。