Our nation was founded on a bedrock principle that we are all created equal.

我們的國家是建立在「人生而平等」的信念之下。

The project of each generation is to bridge the meaning of those founding words with the realities of changing times

每個世代的任務便是將那些建國的信念，實踐在各個變動的時代，

-- a never-ending quest to ensure those words ring true for every single American.

這是一個確保這些信念能夠適用在每個美國人身上的，一段永無止屆的追尋。

Progress on this journey often comes in small increments,

這樣的過程由微小的累積而成，

sometimes two steps forward, one step back,

有時前進了兩步，卻又倒退了一步，

propelled by the persistent effort of dedicated citizens.

而且往往由那些堅持不懈的人民所推動。

And then sometimes, there are days like this when that slow,

而有時候，總會有像這樣的日子，

steady effort is rewarded with justice that arrives like a thunderbolt.

那些緩慢而穩定的付出，會有如閃電般令人振奮的正義作為報償。

This morning, the Supreme Court recognized that the Constitution guarantees marriage equality.

今天早上，最高法院通過了保障婚姻平權的法律。

In doing so, they've reaffirmed that all Americans are entitled to the equal protection of the law.

藉此，他們重申了所有美國人平等地受到法律的保護。

That all people should be treated equally, regardless of who they are or who they love.

人類應該被公平地對待，而這也無關乎他們是誰，或他們所愛的人。

This decision will end the patchwork system we currently have.

這項決議將會終結我們現有的混亂制度。

It will end the uncertainty hundreds of thousands of same-sex couples face

這會終止所有同性伴侶所面臨的不確定性，

from not knowing whether their marriage, legitimate in the eyes of one state,

亦即不曉得他們原本合法的婚姻關係，

will remain if they decide to move [to] or even visit another.

在移居或甚至單純拜訪其他州之後，是否會維持原本的正當性。

This ruling will strengthen all of our communities by offering to all loving same-sex couples the dignity of marriage across this great land.

這將會強化社會凝聚力，因我們賦予所有相愛的同性伴侶，一個在這塊偉大土地上結婚的尊嚴。

In my second inaugural address,

而在我的第二次就職演說中，

I said that if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well.

我說，如果我們真的是生而平等，那我們對彼此的愛也應當是平等的。

It is gratifying to see that principle enshrined into law by this decision.

看到這樣的原則能因為這個決定而被確立，我感到相當滿意。

This ruling is a victory for Jim Obergefell and the other plaintiffs in the case.

這個決議對 Jim Obergefell (來自辛辛那提的同性伴侶)以及其他原告來說，都是一場勝利。

It's a victory for gay and lesbian couples who have fought so long for their basic civil rights.

這對那些為了基本公民權而長期奮戰的男/女同性戀伴侶來說，也無疑是一場勝利。

It's a victory for their children, whose families will now be recognized as equal to any other.

對身在同性戀家庭的小孩來說，這也是一場勝利，因為他們的家庭將被平等地看待。

It's a victory for the allies and friends and supporters who spent years, even decades, working and praying for change to come.

這對那些奔波與祈禱數十年，期待改變來臨的盟友與支持者們來說，也是一場勝利。

And this ruling is a victory for America.

而這項決議對美國來說，更是一場勝利。

This decision affirms what millions of Americans already believe in their hearts:

這個決定強化了數百萬美國人已經根深柢固的想法：

When all Americans are treated as equal we are all more free.

當所有美國人都被平等對待時，我們都將更加自由。

My administration has been guided by that idea.

我的施政也是依循著這個概念而行的。

It's why we stopped defending the so-called Defense of Marriage Act,

這就是為什麼我們不再支持所謂的「捍衛婚姻法案」，

and why we were pleased when the Court finally struck down a central provision of that discriminatory law.

而且，看到法院終於對這個具歧視性的法律發表中央立場，我們也相當欣慰。

It's why we ended "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

這就是為什麼我們終止「不問，不說」(美軍於1994-2012對同性戀者的政策)

From extending full marital benefits to federal employees and their spouses,

從延伸婚姻權利至聯邦雇員與他們的伴侶，

to expanding hospital visitation rights for LGBT patients and their loved ones,

到為 LGBT 病患與他們的愛人擴展醫療照護權，

we've made real progress in advancing equality for LGBT Americans in ways that were unimaginable not too long ago.

在這段提升平等權的過程中，我們已經達到許久以前無法企及的進步。

I know change for many of our LGBT brothers and sisters must have seemed so slow for so long.

我知道對許多 LGBT 兄弟姊妹來說，改變是如此的曠日費時。

But compared to so many other issues, America's shift has been so quick.

但和其他許多議題相比，美國的改變已經相當迅速。

I know that Americans of goodwill continue to hold a wide range of views on this issue.

我知道很多出於好心的美國人仍對這個議題抱持許多不同的看法。

Opposition in some cases has been based on sincere and deeply held beliefs.

在某些情況下，反對的聲浪是源自於誠摯且堅定的信仰。

All of us who welcome today's news should be mindful of that fact:

因此那些熱烈歡迎今天這則新聞的人應當要謹記：

recognize different viewpoints; revere our deep commitment to religious freedom.

我們要認可不同的觀點，並且尊重我們為信仰自由所許下的承諾。

But today should also give us hope that on the many issues with which we grapple, often painfully, real change is possible.

但同樣地，我們也應該抱持希望，因為在許多我們為之艱辛奮鬥的議題中，改變是可能的。

Shifts in hearts and minds is possible.

內心與思想的改變是可能的。

And those who have come so far on their journey to equality

同時，那些經過長途跋涉進而達到平等的人們，

have a responsibility to reach back and help others join them.

也有義務回頭，來幫助其他人加入他們的行列。

Because for all our differences, we are one people, stronger together than we could ever be alone.

因為，儘管我們有許多差異，我們仍是齊心的，而且會比我們孤軍奮戰時更加堅強。

That's always been our story.

這一直都是我們的寫照。

We are big and vast and diverse;

美國幅員廣大而且充滿多元，

a nation of people with different backgrounds and beliefs, different experiences and stories,

這國家的人民來自不同的背景，擁有不同的信仰，有迥異的經驗與生命故事，

but bound by our shared ideal that no matter who you are or what you look like,

但我們都共享一個價值：不論你的出身或長相、

how you started off, or how and who you love,

你如何起家、你愛的人或是你愛他的方式，

America is a place where you can write your own destiny.

美國都是一個你可以掌握自己命運的國度。

We are a people who believe that every single child is entitled to life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

我們認為每個孩童都擁有享受生命、自由，以及追求幸福的權利。

There's so much more work to be done to extend the full promise of America to every American.

距離完全落實美國對其人民的所有承諾，我們還有多工作要做。

But today, we can say in no uncertain terms that we've made our union a little more perfect.

但今天，我們可以直截了當的說，我們讓美國朝完美又接近了一步。

That's the consequence of a decision from the Supreme Court,

這除了是最高法院的決議所造成的結果外，

but, more importantly, it is a consequence of the countless small acts of courage

但更重要的是，這是由無數人民經年累月的無數勇氣所匯聚而成的，

of millions of people across decades who stood up, who came out, who talked to parents

他們挺身而出，他們出聲捍衛，他們也和那些無論如何

-- parents who loved their children no matter what.

都深愛著自己孩子的父母溝通。

Folks who were willing to endure bullying and taunts, and stayed strong,

那些忍受霸凌與訕笑的人們，他們屹立不搖，

and came to believe in themselves and who they were, and slowly made an entire country realize that love is love.

他們轉而相信自己，並且逐漸讓整個國家認知到，愛就是愛。

What an extraordinary achievement.

這是一個多麼偉大的成就啊。

What a vindication of the belief that ordinary people can do extraordinary things.

這無疑是對「平常人也能成就偉大」這個信念的最佳擁護。

What a reminder of what Bobby Kennedy once said about how small actions can be like pebbles

這也提醒了我們 Bobby Kennedy曾說的，微小的舉動如同小石子

being thrown into a still lake, and ripples of hope cascade outwards and change the world.

被丟進平靜無波的湖中，而名為希望的波瀾向外擴散，隨後改變世界。

Those countless, often anonymous heroes -- they deserve our thanks.

那些無數而且經常匿名的英雄們，他們值得我們的感謝。

They should be very proud.

他們應該感到驕傲。

America should be very proud.

美國也應該感到非常驕傲。

Thank you.

謝謝。

(applause)