From VOA Learning English, this is IN THE NEWS in Special English.
这里是美国之音慢速英语新闻报道。

Thousands of peaceful demonstrators gathered outside the Supreme Court in Washington, DC this week. They were there to show their support for or opposition to same sex marriage. They hoped to have an effect on the justices inside who spent two days listening to arguments.
数千名和平示威者聚集在华盛顿特区的最高法院外面。他们是去表达自己对同性婚姻的支持或反对。他们希望能够影响到最高法院内用两天时间聆讯的大法官们。

One case seeks to block California's 2008 ballot measure known as Proposition 8. The measure banned same sex marriage in the state.
其中一宗案件的目的是否决2008年加州公投通过的所谓8号提案。该法案禁止同性伴侣在该州结婚。

The second case involves a 1996 law known as the Defense of Marriage Act. It defines marriage as only between a man and a woman. It also denies same sex couples certain federal benefits that married heterosexuals receive. They include Social Security survivor payments and certain tax deductions.
第二宗案件涉及1996年联邦婚姻保护法。该法案将婚姻定义为一男一女之间，同时拒绝同性伴侣获得已婚异性恋者能够获得的某些联邦福利，其中包括鳏夫寡妇的社会保障以及某些税收减免。

Attorney Ted Olson represented California gay couples who want to marry. He spoke after the hearing.
律师特德·奥尔森（Ted Olson）代理了加州想要结婚的同性伴侣。他在聆讯后表示。

"The broadest that argument we made is that it is just wrong. It is not consistent with the ideals, and the laws and the constitution of this country to take our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters and put them in a class and deny them rights that we give to everyone else."
“我们主要论证加州8号提案是绝对错误的，它不符合理想。美国的法律和宪法将男、女同性恋者归为一类，拒绝向他们提供其他人都能获得的权利。”

Attorney Charles Cooper argued in support of the ban against same sex marriage.
律师查尔斯·库珀（Charles Cooper）主张支持禁止同性婚姻的禁令。

"We believe that Proposition 8 is constitutional and that the place for the decision to be made regarding redefining marriage is with the people, not with the courts."
他说，“我们认为，加州8号提案是符合宪法的，做出有关重定义婚姻决定的是人民，而不是法院。”

John Lewis opposes the ban. He wants the court to settle the issue once and for all.
约翰·刘易斯（John Lewis）反对这项禁令。他希望最高法院彻底地解决这个问题。

"We are Americans. And we are here on the steps of the United States Supreme Court because every single American, without exception, should have the freedom to marry the person that they love."
他说，“我们是美国人。我们站在美国最高法院的台阶上，是因为所有美国人都应该享有和自己所爱的人结婚的自由，绝无例外。”

Gay rights activist Michelle Bailey was also there.
同性恋权利活动人士米歇尔·贝利（Michelle Bailey）也在场。

"I was born here. I pay taxes. I deserve equal rights."
他说，“我生在这里，正常纳税，理应获得同等的权利。”

Dominic Parisi and his husband Dan Zimmerman also came out to show their support for same sex marriage. Mr. Parisi said the show of support in front of the Supreme Court sends a message to government leaders.
多米尼克·帕里西（Dominic Parisi）和他的丈夫丹·齐默尔曼（Dan Zimmerman）也来到这里表达他们对同性婚姻的支持。帕里西先生说，在最高法院前表达支持向政府领导人传达了一个讯息。

"I see the country going much faster than the court. We have been together for 29 years. Actually, I've been going faster than the court for many years, so I think it's time for the court to catch up."
他说，“我看到美国远远走在了法庭的前面。我们在一起已经29年了。其实，我已经比法院快了很多年，我认为法院是时候赶上时代了。”

Dan Zimmerman said the push for gay rights is a grassroots effort led by the people.
齐默尔曼表示，推动同性恋权利是由人民领导的一起底层的尝试。

"I think basically the people are going to have to drag the politicians after them. I am surprised that the country has reached this point, but proud that we have."
他说，“我认为，基本上人民将不得不拽着政治家走。我觉得很奇怪美国已经这样，但我为我们拥有的而自豪。”

Recent public opinion studies show a major change in attitudes towards gay marriage over the past several years. Some reports put support for gay marriage at more than 50 percent. Nine states and Washington, DC currently recognize same sex marriage.
最近的民意调查显示，在过去几年人们对同性婚姻的态度有了重大改变。一些报道认为支持同性婚姻的占50%以上。美国九个州和华盛顿特区现在都承认同性婚姻。

But even with the change in public opinion, a large number of Americans still resist same-sex marriage. Peter Sprigg is with the Family Research Council, a conservative activist group in Washington.
但即使公众舆论已有改变，还是有大量美国人抵制同性婚姻。彼得·斯普里格（Peter Sprigg）就职于华盛顿一个保守的维权组织--家庭研究会。

"Society needs children. Children need a mom and dad. That is why we think marriage should be defined as the union of one man and one woman."
他说，“社会需要孩子，而孩子需要父母。这就是我们认为婚姻应该被定义为一男一女结合的原因。”

Shirley Phelps-Roper belongs to an anti-gay church in Kansas. She also made the trip to Washington to show her opposition.
雪莉·菲尔普斯-罗珀（Shirley Phelps-Roper）隶属于堪萨斯州一个反同性恋教会。她也前往华盛顿表达她的反对态度。

"When the Supreme Court does this thing, it's going to be the last straw. This nation's destruction is imminent."
她说，“美国的毁灭已经迫在眉睫，最高法院的判决将是最后一根救命稻草。”

Andrew Pugno is with the Protect Marriage Coalition. He worries that the court could rule in such a way that would open the way for gay marriage in all 50 states.
安德鲁·普尼奥（Andrew Pugno）就职于保护婚姻联盟。他担心的是，法庭如果这样判决，就会开启美国所有50个州同性婚姻的大门。

"A victory here for us means that this issue returns to the people and their legislatures and their elected representatives where the debate belongs."
“对我们而言，胜利就是将这个问题退回给争议所在的这些人，以及他们的议会、他们选出的代表。”

Several members of the high court are considering the issue with care, including Justice Samuel Alito.
最高法院的几位大法官正在谨慎考虑这一问题，其中包括塞缪尔·阿利托（Samuel Alito）大法官。

"You want us to step in and render a decision based on an assessment of the effects of this institution, which is newer than cellphones or the internet?"
他说，“你想要我们介入，在对一项比手机和互联网更新的制度的影响进行评估的基础上做出决定吗？”

Rulings in both cases are expected at the end of June. No matter the decision, supporters of same sex marriage outside the court said this week will be remembered as a historic moment in the struggle for equal rights for gay and lesbian Americans.
预计对这两起案件的裁决将在六月底出台。最高法院外面的同性婚姻支持者表示，无论如何裁决，本周都将被铭记为争取美国同性恋者平等权利斗争中的一个历史性时刻。