I'm a sixth generation Iowan, and an engineering student at the University of Iowa,

我是個第六代的愛荷華人，就讀於愛荷華大學工學院

and I was raised by two women.

而我是被兩位女性撫養長大的。

My biological mom, Terry, told her grandparents that she was pregnant, that the artificial insemination had worked,

我的親生母親，Terry，告訴她的祖父母她懷孕了，人工受孕成功了

and they wouldn't even acknowledge it.

他們甚至不願承認這件事。

It actually wasn't until I was born, and they succumb to my infantile cuteness,

事實上，是一直到了我出生後，他們才因為我這小嬰兒的可愛而軟化

that they broke down and told her that they were thrilled to have another grandson.

他們放聲痛哭並告訴我的生母他們很高興有了另一個孫子

Unfortunately neither of them lived to see her marry her partner, Jackie, of 15 years when they wed in 2009.

很不幸的，他們兩個都沒有活到看見我的生母在2009年嫁給她十五年的伴侶Jackie

My younger sister, and only sibling, was born in 1994.

我的妹妹，唯一的手足，出生於1994年

We actually have the same anonymous donor so we're full siblings, which is really cool for me.

我們事實上是因為有著同一位匿名的捐贈者，所以我們是親兄妹，這對我來說非常酷。

Um, you know, and I guess the point is that our family really isn't so different from any other Iowa family.

嗯，你知道，我認為重點在於我們的家庭和任何其他愛荷華的家庭比起來並沒有那麼的不同。

You know, when I'm home, we go to church together, we eat dinner, we go on vacations.

你知道的，當我在家的時候，我們會一起上教堂，我們一起吃晚餐，一起去度假。

But you know, we have our hard times too, we get in fights.

但是，你知道的，我們也有我們的難關，我們會吵架。

Um, you know, actually my mom Terry was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2000.

嗯，你知道的，事實上，我的母親Terry，在2000年被診斷出多發性硬化症。

It is a devastating disease that put her in a wheelchair. So we've had our struggles.

這是一個毁滅性的疾病，讓她坐上了輪椅，所以我們有我們的奮鬥。

But you know, we're Iowan's.

但是，你知道的，我們是愛荷華人

We don't expect anyone to solve our problems for us; we'll fight our own battles.

我們並不期望任何人來替我們解決我們的問題。我們會為自己作戰。

We just hope for equal and fair treatment from our government.

我們只希望能從政府得到平等及公平的對待。

Being a student at the University of Iowa, the topic of same sex marriage comes up quite frequently in classroom discussions.

身為一位愛荷華大學的學生，同性婚姻的議題在課堂討論中常常會被提到。

You know, and the questions always comes down to, "Well, can gays even raise kids?"

你知道的，這些問題總是會歸結到：「嗯，同性戀能撫養孩子嗎？」

And the question, the conversation gets quiet for a moment, because most people don't really have an answer.

而這問題，對話會沉默一陣子，因為大部份的人並沒有一個答案

And then I raise my hand and say, "Actually I was raised by a gay couple, and I'm doing pretty well."

然後我舉手說：「其實，我是被一對同性戀撫養長大的，而我過得很不錯。」

I scored in the 99th percentile on the ACT, I'm actually an Eagle scout. I own and operate my own small business.

我在美國大學 入學測驗中得到了第九十九級分。我其實是個鷹童軍(童子軍最高等級)。我擁有而且經營自己的小公司。

If I was your son, Mr. Chairman, I believe I'd make you very proud.

如果我是你的兒子，主席先生，我相信我會讓你感到非常驕傲

I'm not really so different from any of your children. My family really isn't so different from yours.

我跟你們任何一個小孩其實沒有那麼的不同。我的家庭跟你的比起來也並沒有那麼不同。

After all, your family doesn't derive it's sense of worth from being told by the state, "You're married. Congratulations!"

畢竟，你的家庭獲得價值感的來源並不是透過政府告訴你：「你們結婚了。恭喜。」。

No. The sense of family comes from the committment we make to each other:

不是的。家庭的概念來自於我們對彼此的承諾。

to work through the hard times, so we can enjoy the good ones.

一起克服艱難的時刻，如此我們就可以一起享受快樂的時光。

It comes from the love that binds us.

那是由愛來凝聚我們的親情。

That's what makes a family.

這就是造就一個家庭的東西！

So what you're voting here isn't to change us.

所以你們在這裡的表決並不是要改變我們。

It's not to change our families.

不是要改變我們的家庭，

it's to change how the law views us; how the law treats us.

是要改變法律是如何看待我們、對待我們。

You are voting for the first time, in the history of our state, to codify discrimination into our constitution.

你們是為了在州史上首次將不平等待遇編纂入憲法而投票，

A constiution, that but for the purposed amendment, is the least amended constitution in the United States of America.

一部除了已提出的修正案外，全美國最少被修過的憲法。

You are telling Iowans that "Some among you are second class citizens

你們這是在告訴愛荷華人，你們之中有些人是次等公民，

who do not have the right to marry the person you love."

沒有權利和自己所愛的人結婚。

So will this vote affect my family? Would it affect yours?

所以這次投票會影響我的家庭嗎？它會影響你的嗎？

Over the next two hours, I'm sure we're going to hear plenty of testimony

接下來的兩個小時，我敢確定我們會聽到許多證詞

about how damaging having gay parents is on kids.

是關於同性戀雙親對孩子是多麼有害的

But in my 19 years, not once have I ever been confronted by an individual

但在我過去的十九年裡，我連一次都沒碰過

who realized independently that I was raised by a gay couple. And you know why?

是他自己了解到我是由同性戀伴侶撫養長大的人。而你知道為什麼嗎？

Because the sexual orientation of my parents has had zero effect on the content of my character.

因為我雙親的性向，完完全全不會影響我的人格特質

Thank you very much.

謝謝