英语听力：VOA双语新闻—纽约州通过法律，同性恋婚姻合法

　　New York has legalized same sex marriage, making it the sixth U.S state to do so. Gay rights advocates call the vote a major victory in their quest for equality.

同性恋婚姻在纽约州已经取得合法化地位，这使得纽约州成为美国第六个实现同性恋婚姻合法化的州。同性恋权利保护者称，这次表决是他们追求平等的道路上取得的一次重大胜利。

The New York State Senate approved the legislation Friday night by a vote of 33 to 29, as four Republican lawmakers crossed party lines and voted in favor of the bill. Governor Andrew Cuomo, who had pushed for the bill, quickly signed the legislation into law meaning, pending 1 court challenges, same sex couples can begin legally marrying in New York in 30 days.

纽约州参议院6月4日(星期五)以33票对29票的表决结果，批准了同性恋婚姻合法化的法案，其中有四名共和党议员跨越党派，投出了支持票。一直在推动这项法案的纽约州长安德鲁.库默随后签署这项法案，使之成为法律。这意味着， 如果无人到法院提出诉讼，同性恋者将可以在30天后开始在纽约州合法结婚。

"New York made a powerful statement, not just for the people of New York, but [also for] the people all across this nation. We reached a new level of social justice this evening," Cuomo said.

库默州长说：“纽约州发出了一个强有力的声明。这不仅为了纽约州的人民，同时也是为了全国的民众。今晚，我们在社会公正方面达到了一个新的水准。”

New York could become a destination for same sex couples wanting to legally marry because the state has no residency requirement for obtaining a marriage license 2.

希望合法结婚的同性恋伴侣可能会前往纽约州结婚，因为纽约州并不要求在该州登记结婚者必须是本州居民。

Gay rights advocates filled the statehouse in Albany Friday night to celebrate the historic legislation, with many couples saying they were already planning their weddings. New York, with a population of almost 20 million people, is by far the largest U.S. state to approve same-sex marriage and a major gay pride parade is scheduled for New York City on Sunday.

同性恋权益人士星期五晚上聚集在阿尔巴尼的州议会所在地，庆祝这一具有历史意义的立法，很多同性恋伴侣表示，他们已经准备要结婚了。拥有差不多2千万人口的纽约州，是目前为止美国批准同性恋婚姻合法化最大的州，一场声势浩大的同性恋自豪游行活动，定于星期天在纽约市举行。

In Manhattan, gay rights advocates gathered at bars and restaurants to watch the vote and celebrate its passage. Jason Carson said now gay couples will have the same choices and protections afforded straight couples.

在曼哈顿，同性恋权益人士聚集在酒吧和餐厅，观看表决过程，庆祝法案获得通过。贾森.卡尔森表示，现在同性恋伴侣将拥有和异性恋伴侣一样的选择和保护。

"Now, anybody who wants to get married in the state can," said Carson. "It was always a civil rights issue and now the choice is theirs."

他说：“现在，任何想在纽约州结婚的同性恋者都能实现自己的愿望了。这一直是个民权议题，现在，结婚的选择已经属于他们了。”

This was not the first time gay marriage had come up for a vote in New York. Last year the measure passed the Assembly, but failed to move through the Senate. This year, Republicans in both chambers 3 pushed for more legal protections for religious groups that object to gay marriage or do not wish to perform the ceremony.

这并不是同性恋婚姻议题在纽约州首次付诸表决。去年，同性恋婚姻法案在纽约众议院获得通过，但是在参议院受阻。今年，纽约州参众两院的共和党人积极推动对反对同性恋婚姻或者不愿为同性恋伴侣举办结婚仪式的宗教组织提供更多的法律保护。

Opponents of the measure had also spent the last week in Albany trying to persuade lawmakers to abandon the bill. New York's Archbishop Timothy Dolan derided 4 the measure saying it sought to redefine the definition of marriage, which he says is solely 5 the union between a man and woman.

这项法案的反对者上周在纽约州首府阿尔巴尼，努力劝说议员们放弃这项法案。纽约州大主教蒂莫西.多伦嘲弄了这项法案，称法案是企图对婚姻进行重新定义，这位主教表示，婚姻只能存在于男女之间。

One lawmaker who voted against the measure, Senator Ruben Diaz, told the Senate he could not change his stance on what he believes is the definition of a marital 6 union.

投票反对这项法案的纽约州参议员卢本.迪亚兹对参议院表示，由于他所相信的对婚姻的定义，他无法改变自己的立场。

"God, not man, has set the definition of marriage a long time ago," said Diaz.

他说：“是上帝，而不是人，在很久以前确立了婚姻的定义。”

Advocates say the new law is also historic because more conservative Republican lawmakers were able to move across party lines and strike an agreement with Democrats 7 on a major piece of legislation.

同性恋权益人士表示，这项新的法律之所以是历史性的，还因为有更多保守的共和党议员能够跨越党派的界限，就一项重大立法和民主党人达成共识。