The decision could open the courts to thousands of challenges from gay couples from the handful of states where gay marriage is legal.

司法部的这项决定作出后，在几个承认同性婚姻合法性的州，州法院可能会迎来许多来自同性夫妻的挑战。

youdao

Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker made his ruling in a lawsuit filed by two gay couples who claimed the voter-approved ban violated their civil rights.

两对同性恋伴侣提出诉讼，宣称选民投票通过的禁令侵犯了他们的民权。美国地方法院首席法官沃恩·沃克为此做出裁决。

youdao

ALTHOUGH laid-back Sydney is Australia's gay capital, it was left to more staid Canberra to introduce the country's first law allowing gay and lesbian couples to form civil unions.

尽管悠闲懒散的悉尼是澳大利亚的同性恋之都，但堪培拉却将其甩在了后面，率先引入了全国第一项允许同性恋之间结合的民事结合关系法。

youdao

This makes Washington the seventh state to grant gay couples the right to get married.

FORBES: Washington Gov. Signs Marriage Equality Bill: Should We Thank Social Media For Changing Attitudes Toward Gay Marriage?

South Africa will become the fifth country in the world to grant gay couples both the status and attendant rights of a heterosexual marriage.

ECONOMIST: Success and setbacks in the campaign for gay marriage

He dismisses the idea that gay couples could be granted rights equal to marriage under the rubric of something other than marriage, such as a civil union.

NPR: SF Mayor Takes Gay Marriage Fight To Court