紐約市長 Bloomberg 呼籲同志婚姻合法化

Youtube網址

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7C95m20VvE

﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍ ﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍
        MAYOR BLOOMBERG DELIVERS MAJOR ADDRESS ON URGENT NEED
        FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY
        紐約市長彭博針對通過「同志婚姻法」的迫切性發表演說
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        The following are Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s remarks
        as prepared for delivery at Please check against delivery.
        以下是紐約市長麥可．彭博
        在柯柏高等科學藝術聯盟學院(柯柏聯盟學院)發表的演說內容。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        Thank you, good afternoon, and thank you Rachel,
        I have always been proud to be your uncle,
        but I am especially proud today.
        謝謝各位，午安。謝謝妳，瑞秋。
        我一直以身為你的伯(叔)父為榮，
        而今天我尤其感到榮耀無比。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        “I also want to thank our hosts here at
        The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art.
        我也要感謝柯柏聯盟學院的主辦單位。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        “I think it’s fair to say that
        no institute of higher learning has had a
        more profound impact on the course of
        American history than Cooper Union.
        我想這麼說是公平的：
        柯柏聯盟學院對美國歷史的進步所造成的深遠影響
        是其他高等院校所比不上的。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        By opening it’s doors of its Great Hall across
        the street to Abraham Lincoln
        該校的大禮堂曾敞開大門迎接多位名人，
        從亞伯拉罕．林肯總統(解放黑奴)
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        Frederick Douglass, Susan B. Anthony,
        菲德瑞克．道格拉斯(美國第一位黑人外交官)，
        蘇珊．布朗內爾．安東尼(女權運動家)
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        Elizabeth Cady Stanton and so many other pioneering leaders
        伊麗莎白．凱迪．斯坦頓(《女性聖經》作者，女權運動家)，
        以及其他許多具有前瞻性的領袖前來演講
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        and by hosting the founding of the NAACP,
        Cooper Union has helped push American freedom even
        並藉由創辦「全國有色人種促進協會」，
        柯柏聯盟學院使美國獲得越來越高，越來越寬的自由度。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        Today, we gather in this innovative
        and striking new academic building –
        今天，我們聚集在這個創新、醒目的新學院大樓
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        a symbol of how Cooper Union
        has always looked forward and always championed progress，
        這是柯柏聯盟學院始終前瞻、進步的象徵
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        We gather – in the tradition of those who came before us
        我們依循前人立下的傳統聚集在這裡
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        to discuss a momentous question before our nation
        and our great State of New York
        討論一個我國與我們偉大的紐約州所面臨的重大問題，
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        Should government permit men
        and women of the same sex to marry?
        政府是否該允許男女同性戀者結婚？
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        It is a question that really cuts to
        the core of who we are as a country and as a city
        這是一個攸關我們美國是什麼樣的一個國家、
        我們紐約是什麼樣的城市的核心問題
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        It is a question
        that deserves to be answered here in New York
        which was the birthplace of the gay rights movement,
        more than 40 years ago
        作為四十多年前(1969起)同志平權運動的發源地，
        這個問題也值得在紐約的土地上得到答案
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        And it is a question
        that requires us to step back from the platitudes and
        partisanship of the everyday political debate
        同時，這個問題也亟需讓我們從日常
        政治辯論的陳腔濫調及黨派偏見中抽離，
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        and consider the principles that must lead us forward.
        退一步去思考那些曾帶領我們國家前進的原則
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        The principles
        that have guided our nation since its founding freedom,
        liberty, equality are the principles
        that have animated generations of
        Americans to expand opportunity to
        an ever wider circle of our citizenry.
        自美國立國以來，
        自由，自主，平等這三個原則激勵著一代又一代的美國人
        有機會不斷地去擴大我們的公民範圍，
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        At our founding, African-Americans were held in bondage.
        在建國之初，非裔美國人只有奴隸身分
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        Catholics in New York could not hold office.
        在紐約的天主教徒不能擔任公職
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        Those without property could not vote.
        沒有財產的人沒有投票權，
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        Women could not vote or hold office
        婦女不能投票或被禁止擔任公職。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        And homosexuality was, in some places,
        a crime punishable by death.
        而同性戀，
        在某些地方被當做可判處死刑的罪人。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        “One by one, over many long years,
        the legal prohibitions to freedom and
        equality were overcome:
        經過漫長的歲月，
        原本在法律上對自由權和平等權的限制一個
        接著一個的被超越克服了：
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        Some on the battlefield, some at the State House
        and some in the courthouse.
        有的透過戰爭、有的在議會，有的透過法律的途徑。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        Throughout our history,
        each and every generation has expanded upon the freedoms won
        by their parents and grandparents.
        在美國歷史上，每一代的人承襲了上一輩、
        或上上輩努力而來的自由，更進一步將之擴大
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        Each and every generation
        has removed some barrier to
        full participation in the American dream.
        每一代的人也破除了一些障礙，以使美國夢更能夠實現
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        Each and every generation
        has helped our country take another step on
        the road to a more perfect union for all our citizens.
        每一代人都在幫助我們國家跨出新的步伐，
        讓美國朝向一個屬於全體公民的更完美的聯邦而邁進。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        That is the arc of American history.
        這是美國歷史發展的軌跡
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        That is the march of freedom.
        這是自由的進行曲
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        That is the journey that we must never stop traveling
        這是一趟永不能停止探索的旅程
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        And that is the reason we are here today.
        而這也就是我們今天聚集在這裡的原因。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        The next great barrier standing before our generation
        is the prohibition on marriage for same-sex couples.
        豎立在我們這一代人面前的下一個巨大障礙，
        就是對同性婚姻的禁令
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        The question is: Why now? And why New York?
        問題是：為什麼是現在？又為什麼是紐約？
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        I believe both answers start at the Stonewall Inn.
        我相信兩個答案都可從石牆酒店開始談起 (類似台灣228事件)
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        When the Village erupted in protest 42 years ago next month,
        and every New York and every other state in the union,
        save one –still had laws on the
        books that made same-sex relationships a crime.
        42年(1969年)前的6月28日，
        當紐約格林威治村石牆酒店爆發同志抗爭活動時，
        紐約--和美國聯邦的其他州一樣(除了一州例外)，
        同性戀關係仍然是法條明令禁止的犯罪行為。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        A couple could go to prison for years,
        just for being intimate in the privacy of their own home.
        一對同性戀伴侶可能會因為在私人住宅中從事性行為而坐牢多年
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        For men and women of that era,
        an era many of us remember well,
        being in a gay relationship meant living in fear:
        在那個我們許多人仍然記憶猶新的年代，
        身為同性戀意味著生活在恐懼中。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        Fear of police harassment.
        恐懼害怕警察的騷擾。

        Fear of public humiliation
        恐懼其他人對同志的公開羞辱

        Fear of workplace discrimination.
        恐懼工作場所的歧視。

        Fear of physical violence.
        恐懼肢體的暴力。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        Today, in some places, those fears still linger
        今天在某些地方，這些恐懼仍揮之不去.
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        But as a nation, we have come a long way since Stonewall.
        但是在國家層級上，從石牆酒吧抗爭以來，
        美國已經往前走了一大段路
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        Today, two women in a committed relationship
        who years ago would have hidden
        their relationship from family and friends,
        will instead take part in a wedding ceremony in front
        of their family and friends.
        今天，兩名處在忠誠關係中的女性，
        多年前可能會對家人和朋友隱瞞彼此的關係–
        如今會選擇在家人和朋友面前舉行同志婚禮。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        Today, two men who are long-time partners
        who years ago would never even have entertained the idea ,
        will adopt a child and begin a family.
        今天，兩個擁有長期伴侶關係的男同性戀者，
        多年前可能不會如此考慮，
        將會收養一個孩子，並開始組織一個同志家庭。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        Both events are possible because thousands
        of courageous individuals risked
        everything to come out and speak out.
        以上兩種狀況是可能的，
        因為已經有成千上萬勇敢的個人甘冒一切風險勇敢的出櫃與發聲了。

        And because they did–because they organized and protested,
        because they poured their hearts out to friends
        and family and neighbors,
        because they stood up for their rights
        and marched for equality and ran for office,
        laws banning same-sex relationships
        have been struck down by the Supreme Court.
        而且因為他們的作為 – 因為他們組織起來並抗議，
        因為他們對他們的朋友、家人和鄰居掏心掏肺、
        坦誠相待因為他們站出來爭取他們的權利，
        為爭取同志平權而遊行並競選公職，
        所以
        美國最高法院已判決確定任何禁止同性戀者結婚的法律是違憲的。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        More than 20 states have adopted laws
        that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation.
        在美國已有超過20個州通過禁止性傾向歧視的立法
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        And beginning this year,
        patriotic men and women will be able to enlist in
        the U.S. military without having to hide their identity.
        而從今年開始，愛國的男男女女都能夠在美軍中服役，
        而無需隱瞞自己的同志身分
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        “We owe all of those pioneers a deep debt of gratitude.
        這些人權先驅者值得我們致上深深的感激
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        And although the work is far from over there is no doubt
        that we have passed the tipping point.
        儘管爭取平權的道路來日方長，但毫無疑問的，
        我們已經通過了轉捩點。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        Today, a majority of Americans support marriage equality
        and young people increasingly view marriage equality
        in much the same way as young people in
        the 1960s viewed civil rights
        今天，大多數美國人都支持同志婚姻平等法
        越來越多的美國年輕人對同志婚姻的看法，
        和60年代的年輕人對黑人公民權利的看法極為相似.
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        Eventually, as happened with civil rights
        for African-Americans,
        they will be a majority of voters.
        最終，如同60年代非裔美國人終於獲得公民權利，
        這些年輕人將成為選民中的多數，
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        And they will pass laws that reflect their values
        and elect presidents who personify them.
        今天的年輕人也將通過能反映他們價值觀的法律，
        選出能代表他們價值觀的總統。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        It is not a matter of if – but when.
        這不是一個「如果」，而是「何時」的問題。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        And the question for every New York State lawmaker is:
        Do you want to be remembered as a leader on civil rights?
        Or an obstructionist?
        對每個紐約州的國會議員，這個問題是：
        你要被標記成一個捍衛公民權利的領導者？或是蓄意阻撓者？
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        Remember: on matters of freedom and equality,
        history has not remembered obstructionists kindly.
        請牢記，在爭取自由和平等的道路上，
        歷史不會仁慈的放過那些蓄意的阻撓者。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        Not on abolition.
        在廢除奴隸議題上是如此

        Not on abortion
        在墮胎合法議題上是如此

        Not on women’s suffrage.
        在爭取婦女參政權議題上是如此

        Not on workers’ rights.
        在爭取勞工權益議題上是如此

        Not on civil rights.
        在爭取黑人平權議題上亦復如此
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        And it will be no different on marriage rights.
        而在同志婚姻合法化議題上，也將不會有所不同
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        why now? Because this is our time to stand up for equality
        為什麼是現在呢？因為，
        現在是我們為同志婚姻平權站出來的時候了
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        This is our time to conquer the next frontier of freedom.
        該是攻克下一個自由前線的時候
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        This is our time to be as bold
        and brave as the pioneers who came before us
        這是我們效法那些先驅者一樣大膽和勇敢的時候了。

        And this is our time to lead the American journey forward.
        這是我們帶領美國人權進程向前邁進的時候了。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        You know It’s fitting
        that the gay rights movement began in our City,
        because New Yorkers have always been
        at the forefront of movements to expand American freedoms
        and guarantee American liberties
        同性戀人權運動從紐約這個城市開始是恰當的，
        因為紐約客始終站在美國自由人權這個運動的最前哨，
        努力擴展並保障美國的自由。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        state, leading citizens
        of our City petitioned their colonial rulers
        for religious freedom.
        在我們的開國元勳們明智地決定採行政教分離之前的許多年，
        紐約市的公民領袖已經向英國殖民當局要求宗教信仰的自由；
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        Long before Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation,
        many New Yorkers – including the founder of this college,
        Peter Cooper– crusaded against slavery
        在林肯總統簽署解放奴隸宣言之前的許多年，
        許多紐約人 -- 包括柯柏聯盟學院的創始人，彼得庫柏–
        已堅決地反對奴隸制度；
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        Long before the nation adopted the 19th Amendment,
        New Yorkers helped lead the movement for women’s suffrage.
        在美國憲法第十九修正案(保障婦女參政權)修訂通過之前，
        紐約人早已在協助推動爭取婦女選舉權的運動；
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        And long before the Civil Rights Act of 1964,
        New Yorkers played a pivotal
        role in advancing a color-blind society.
        而在1964年公民權益法案(廢除種族隔離政策)通過之前，
        紐約人在去除種族歧視與偏見的努力上，扮演了舉足輕重的角色。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        So why should New York now lead on marriage equality?
        那麼，為什麼現在紐約市要帶頭爭取同志的婚姻平權？
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        Because we have always led the charge for freedom
        and we have always led by example.
        因為我們一直以爭取自由為己任 – 我們一直以身作則。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎

       artistic, political, social, personal – than New York City.
        世界上沒有一個地方比紐約市更致力於保障言論自由
        –無論是宗教、藝術、政治、社會，還是個人性的言論，都獲得保障，
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        And no place in the world is more welcoming of
        all people no matter what their ethnicity or orientation.
        世界上也沒有任何地方比紐約更歡迎所有的人，
        不論他們的種族或性取向。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
       “That has always been what sets us apart.
        In our city, there is no shame in being true to yourself.
        There is only pride.–We take you as you are,
        and we let you be who you wish to be.
        這一切讓紐約市與眾不同。
        在我們的城市裡，人們可以驕傲的做真實的自己，
        一點也不需要感到羞恥，
        我們接納真實的你，你可以成為你希望成為的樣子。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        That is the essence of New York City.
        這是紐約市的精髓。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        That is what makes us a safe haven for people
        of every background and orientation
        and a magnet for talented and creative people.
        這就是紐約所以能成為各種背景與性取向者的避風港，
        磁吸了許多具有才華與創造力人士的原因。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        It’s the reason why we are the economic engine for
        the country and the greatest city in the world.
        這也是紐約能成為美國經濟引擎，和全世界最偉大城市的原因。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
       “But it’s up to us to keep it that way
        但是，我們的作為決定了紐約是否可延續此榮耀.
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        As other states recognize the rights
        of same-sex couples to marry we cannot stand by and watch.
        當其他州（或國家）承認同性伴侶結婚的權利時，
        我們不能袖手旁觀。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        To do so would be to betray our civic values
        and history and it would harm
        our competitive edge in the global economy.
        這樣做將會背叛我們的公民價值和歷史，
        這樣做也可能會損害到我們在全球經濟上的競爭優勢。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        This is an issue of democratic principles but make no mistake,
        it carries economic consequences.
        這看似一個民主原則的議題，但毫無疑問的，
        它也包含了經濟的重要議題。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        We are the freest city in the freest country in the world
        紐約市是世界上最自由的國家裏最自由的城市
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        but freedom is not frozen in time.
        但自由不會就此不變
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        And if we are to remain the freest city,
        with the most dynamic and innovative economy,
        如果紐約要維持世上最自由的城市，擁有最具活力和創新的經濟
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎

        just as we have on so many other matters
        of fundamental civil rights.
        正如我們引領其他基本公民權利一樣。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        In talking to State legislators
        who do not yet support marriage equality
        I can sense that many of them are searching their souls
        for answers and they are torn.
        在跟那些還不支持同志婚姻法的州議員交談時，
        我可以感覺到，他們正試圖從心靈中尋求解答，
        他們正在天人交戰中。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        Like all of us, they have friends and family
        and colleagues who are gay and lesbian.
        像我們所有的人一樣，他們也有男、女同性戀的朋友、家人和同事
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        They know gay and lesbian couples
        who are deeply in love with each other,
        many of whom are loving and devoted parents, too.
        他們認識深愛著彼此的同性戀伴侶，
        許多同志伴侶也是慈愛和盡心盡力的父母。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        They know those couples yearn to be seen
        and treated as equal to all other couples.
        那些同志伴侶渴望得到等同於其他異性戀夫妻的平等對待。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        And they often hear from their own families
        especially their children that
        this is a civil rights issue
        同時他們時常聽到家人(尤其是他們的孩子)這麼說：
        這是一個公民權利的議題。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        I hope they listen to their kids carefully
        and make them proud with their foresight and courage.
        我希望州議員們認真聽聽孩子們的話，
        讓孩子能為他們的遠見和勇氣感到驕傲。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        “Now, I understand the desire by some to seek guidance
        from their religious teachings.
        But this is not a religious issue.
        It is a civil issue.
        現在，我知道有些州議員正在尋求宗教教義的指引，
        但是這不是一個宗教議題，這是一個人權議題。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        And that is why, under the bill proposed in Albany,
        no church or synagogue or
        mosque would be required to perform
        or sanction a same-sex wedding as is the
        case in every state that has legalized marriage equality.
        這就是為什麼在紐約州首府奧爾巴尼提出的同志婚姻法案，
        沒有任何基督、天主教、猶太教的教堂或回教的清真寺，
        會被要求去執行或批准同性婚禮，
        如同美國其他已經將同志婚姻合法化的州一樣。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        Some faith communities would perform them; others would not.
        That is their right.
        有些宗教團體會舉行同性婚禮；其他人不會，這是他們的權利。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        I have enormous respect for religious leaders
        on both sides of the issue but government
        has no business taking sides in these debates – none.
        對這項議題抱持不同立場的宗教領導人，
        我抱持著極大的尊重，但政府不會在這樣的辯論中選邊站。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        As private individuals,
        we may be part of a faith community that forbids
        divorce or birth control or alcohol.
        作為一個個人，我們可以是某個禁止離婚、
        反對節育或禁用酒精的宗教團體中的成員；
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        But as public citizens,
        we do not impose those prohibitions on society
        但身為公民，我們不會強加這樣的禁令到社會大眾頭上.
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        We may place our personal faith in the Torah,
        or the New Testament, or the Koran, or anything else.
        身為個人，我們可以自由信仰猶太教、新約聖經、可蘭經，
        或其他宗教，
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        But as a civil society,
        we place our public faith in the U.S. Constitution
        the principles and protections that define it,
        and the values that have guided its evolution.
        但作為一個公民社會，我們的公開信念根基於我們的美國憲法上，
        包括定義憲法的原則與保衛條件，以及引領憲法演進的種種價值。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        And as elected officials,
        our responsibility is not to any one creed or congregation,
        but to all citizens.
        而作為民選官員，我們的責任不是向任何一個信仰
        或教會負責，而是向所有公民負責。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        It is my hope that members
        of the State Senate majority will recognize that
        supporting marriage equality
        is not only consistent with our civic principles,
        It is consistent with conservative principles.
        我希望多數的紐約州參議員能體認到，
        支持同性婚姻平等不僅符合我們的公民原則
        –它與保守原則的精神相符。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        Conservatives believe that government
        should not intrude into people’s personal lives,
        and it’s just none of government’s business who you love.
        保守派相信政府不應侵犯人們的個人生活，
        你愛上誰，政府無權置喙。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        Conservatives also believe that government
        should not stand in the way of free markets
        and private associations including contracts
        between consenting parties.
        保守派也認為政府不應該阻擋自由市場和私人媾合，
        只要具有雙方當事人都同意的契約。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        And that’s exactly what marriage is a contract,
        a legal bond,
        between two adults who vow to support one another,
        in sickness and in health.
        而婚姻也正是如此：
        介於兩位成年人之間，
        無論生病或健康都誓言要相互扶持的一種契約，一項法律的結合。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        There is no State interest in denying one class
        of couples a right to that contract.
        否定某一類伴侶締結婚姻契約的權利，是不符合國家利益的
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        Just the opposite, in fact.
        恰恰相反的，這會危害到國家利益
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        Marriage has always been a force for stability
        in families and communities because it fosters responsibility.
        事實上婚姻一直是穩定家庭和社區的力量，
        因為它促進了責任感。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        That’s why conservatives promote marriage
        and that’s why marriage equality would be healthy for society,
        healthy for couples and healthy for children.
        這就是為什麼保守派要倡導婚姻，
        這就是為什麼同性婚姻平等將有助於社會的健全發展，
        有助於同性伴侶和其子女的健康。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        Right now, sadly,
        children of same-sex couples often ask their parents:
        Why
        haven’t you gotten married like all our friends’ parents?
        現在，可悲的是，
        同性伴侶的小孩經常問父母：
        你們為什麼不像我們所有朋友的父母一樣結婚呢？
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        That’s a heartbreaking question to answer.
        這是一個令人心碎的問題
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        And it’s an early expression of the profound principle
        that sets our country apart:
        that all people are created equal,
        with equal rights to life,liberty,
        and the pursuit of happiness.
        美國憲法中的這些頗具深意的原則使美國與眾不同：
        所有人生而平等的，具有平等的生命權，自由權和追求幸福的權利。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        That is the American dream,
        but for gay and lesbian couples,
        it is still only that: A dream.
        這就是美國夢，但對同性伴侶來說，這仍然只是一個夢。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        “The plain reality is,
        if we are to recognize same-sex
        and opposite sex couples as equals,
        that equality must extend to obtaining civil marriage licenses
        事實很清楚，如果我們承認同性和異性夫婦具有平等的權利，
        這種平等必須擴大到同性伴侶可以取得結婚證書這件事。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        Now, some people ask:
        Why not just grant gay couples civil unions?
        現在有人會問：給同性戀伴侶”民事結合”就好了，
        為什麼要給他們結婚權？
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        That is a fair and honest question.
        這個問題問得很合理，也很坦白
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        But the answer is simple and unavoidable:
        但答案很簡單而無可迴避
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        Long ago, the Supreme Court declared that“separate but equal”
        opportunities are inherently unequal.
        It took the U.S. Supreme Court nearly
        60 years after Plessy vs. Ferguson,
        which upheld disparate treatment of non-whites,
        to come to that conclusion.
        57年前(1954年)，美國最高法院宣布黑人
        與白人『隔離但機會平等』根本是不平等的，
        這是美國最高法院在審議白人是否可以對非
        白種人進行差別待遇的普萊西、弗格森訴訟(1896年)後，
        花了將近60年才得出的結論。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        It took the Supreme Court another 13 yearsto
        strike down laws barring inter-racial marriage,
        美國最高法院接著又花了13年(1967年)才否決禁止跨種族通婚的法律
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        and another 36 years after
        that to strike down laws criminalizing same-sex relationships.
        在其後的36年(2004年)，
        美國最高法院才否決了視同性關係為犯罪的法律。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        The march for equality
        and tolerance in America has sometimes been slow,
        but it has never stopped.
        爭取平等和寬容的步調在美國有時是緩慢的，但它從未停滯不前。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        Since our nation’s earliest days,
        when the Congress first adopted the Bill of Rights,
        the Constitution’s protections of liberty
        have grown broader and stronger,
        and the law of the land
        has grown increasingly neutral on matters of race,
        nationality, gender, and sexual orientation.
        從美國建國初期國會首度通過人權法案後，
        美國憲法對自由的保障已發展得更加廣泛與強大，
        我們的法律對於種族，
        國籍，性別和性取向也變得越來越中立。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        That inexorable progress is the genius
        of our constitutional system
        這種無法阻擋的進步性是我們憲法制度先天的優點.
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        In fact, we have had major social change
        without violence because the revolution we seek is contained
        within our founding documents.
        事實上，我們曾發生過重大的社會變革卻沒有發生暴力，
        因為我們追求改革的精神已包含在我們的憲法中。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        We have no king to overthrow
        only our own ideals to live up to.
        我們不需要推翻國王(體制) - 只需要去實踐我們自己的理想。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        In the weeks ahead,
        I will continue doing everything I can to convince our
        state legislators to take the long view
        and consider their place in history
        and consider the kind
        of world they want to leave their children.
        在未來幾週內，
        我將繼續盡我所能去說服我們的州議員，
        請他們眼光放遠，考慮他們在歷史上的定位
        –並且思考他們要留給自己的孩子一個怎樣的世界。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        Governor Cuomo and Governor Paterson
        both deserve great credit for advancing
        this issue in Albany,
        現任紐約州州長寬莫，
        前任州長派特森兩人在任內為推動
        同性婚姻法這一議題上的努力值得讚譽，
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        and I strongly believe
        that just as New Yorkers are discussing and debating
        it openly so should both houses of the State Legislature.
        我強烈相信，就像紐約人正在公開討論和辯論它一樣，
        紐約州的參議院與眾議院也應該如此做。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        That’s democracy.
        And the essence of democracy is a public debate
        and a public vote.
        這就是民主。而民主的本質就是公共辯論和公眾投票
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        New Yorkers have a right to know
        where their elected officials stand.
        紐約人有權利知道他們的民選議員的立場
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        We deserve a vote not next year,
        or after the 2012 elections but in this legislative session.
        我們應該就同性婚姻法進行投票，
        不是在明年或2012年總統大選之後，而是在參眾兩院本屆會期中。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        There’s a reason I’m so passionate
        about this issue and so determined to push for change.
        有一個原因讓我對這個議題充滿熱情，讓我決心推動變革。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        I see the pain the status quo causes and I cannot defend it.
        我看到了現狀引起的痛苦，我不能為這種現狀做辯護。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎

        my staff who are gay,
        or when I look into the eyes of my niece, Rachel,
        當我遇到一個是同性戀的紐約人，
        當我跟我同性戀的朋友、我的同性戀幹部說話時，
        或當我凝視我姪女瑞秋的眼睛時
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        I cannot tell them
        that their government is correct in denying
        them the right to marry.
        I cannot tell them that marriage is not for them.
        I cannot tell them that a civil union is good enough.
        我無法告訴他們，政府拒絕給同性戀者結婚的權利是正確的，
        我不能告訴他們婚姻是不適合他們的，我不能告訴他們，
        同性伴侶取得”民事結合”就足夠了。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        In our democracy, near equality is no equality.
        Government either treats everyone the same,
        or it doesn’t. And right now, it doesn’t.
        在我們的民主裏，”接近平等”就是”不平等，
        政府要嘛就是對所有人一視同仁，
        要嘛就是對某些人不平等，
        二者只能選一，而現在，政府沒有做到一視同仁。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        Tonight, two New Yorkers who are in a committed relationship
        will come home, cook dinner,
        help their kids with their homework
        and turn in for the night.
        今晚，兩個處在忠誠關係中的紐約人會回家做飯，
        幫助孩子寫功課，陪著孩子上床睡覺。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        They want desperately to be married –
        not for the piece of paper they will
        get Not for the ceremony
        or the reception or the wedding cake.
        But for the recognition that the lifelong commitment
        they have made to each other is not
        less than anyone else’s and not second-class in any way.

           他們急切地想結婚。
        不是為了一張結婚證書，
        不是為了結婚典禮、喜宴或是結婚蛋糕，
        而是為了他們互相許下
        的終身承諾可以得到社會承認，
        這種承諾就任何一方面來說跟異性戀夫妻的承諾是一樣的珍貴，
        絕對不是次等的。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        And they want it not just for themselves
        but for their children.
        They want their children to know that their family is
        as healthy and legitimate as all other families.
        而他們希望得到承認不只是為了自己 – 更是為了他們的孩子，
        他們希望自己的孩子們知道他們的家庭
        和所有其他家庭一樣是健康的和合法的。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        “That desire for equal standing in society
        is extraordinarily powerful
        and it has led to extraordinary advances
        in American freedom.
        那種想在社會上得到平等權利的欲望是非常強大的，
        它已經在美國保障自由的傳統上得到非凡的進展。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        “It has never been defeated.
          它未曾失敗。

         “It cannot be defeated.
          它是無法被擊敗的。

        “And on marriage equality, it will not be defeated.
          在爭取同性婚姻權的平等上，它也將不會被打敗

        “There is no retreating to a past that has disappeared.
          There is no holding back a wave that has crested.
        面對同性婚姻合法化的議題，我們不能再用落伍的觀
        念來閃避逃躲；潮流的波浪已然成形，不能再退縮。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎

       And there is no denying a freedom that belongs to all of us.
        我們怎能剝奪本應屬於每個人的自由。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        “The time has come for us to fulfill
        the dreams that exploded onto Sheridan Square 42 years ago
        to allow thousands of men and women to become full
        members of the American family,
        and to take the next step on the inspired
        journey our founding fathers first began.
        時候已到，該是讓我們實現42年前紐約
        石牆事件時，在謝萊登廣場引爆的夢想的時刻了：
        讓成千上萬的男女同性戀者成為美國大家庭的完整成員，
        並在這一條開國元勳們開創，充滿啟發性的旅途上採取下一步行動。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        Together, we can work across
        the aisle to pass a bill allowing all New Yorkers
        to walk down the aisle and lead our state
        and country toward a more perfect union.
        我們可以跨越黨派合作，一起通過同志婚姻法案，
        讓所有的紐約客(無論其性取向為何)都能結婚，
        並帶領我們的州、我們的國家朝向更完美的聯邦邁進。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        This is something that we have to do,
        and we have to do it right now!
        這是我們必須要做的事，而且現在就要行動。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        We are Americans, and this is what American stands for.
        我們是美國人，而這就是美國人的立場與價值。
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎
        Thank you very much.  非常感謝各位！
    ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎