2014英语四级听力练习慢速4.7(1)_大学英语听力

2014英语四级听力练习慢速4.7(1)

　　Ari Waldman is a professor at the New York University School of Law. He says the judge in Utah was following an earlier ruling by the United States Supreme Court.

　　The Supreme Court said that the federal government cannot discriminate against legally married same-sex couples.

　　The Supreme Court found that a law called the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act was unconstitutional. The law said the federal government could not recognize same-sex marriages. But Professor Waldman adds that the court did not say whether a state could ban such marriages.

　　Professor Ari Waldman says the Supreme Courts decision on same-sex marriage did have an effect. He says it strengthened legal arguments for ending state bans on such unions.

　　But in January, the Supreme Court intervened in the Utah case. It ordered a suspension of same-sex marriages while the state appealed the lower courts decision.

　　Gay couples are fighting for the right to marry in many states that ban gay marriages. And gay-rights groups are working to end bans on same-sex marriage by getting support from legislators or voters.

　　Groups opposed to same-sex marriage are still active, but they appear not as strong as they once were. For many years, opponents of same-sex marriage had won the fight. They said states should be able to decide whether they would permit same-sex marriage. But supporters of same-sex marriage believe the US Constitution does not give states the right to ban same-sex marriages. And recently, in federal courts and state legislatures, they have been winning.