Scholars struggle to put gay marriage in spotlight

时间：2007-10-08 03:10:49

（单词翻译:单击）

Oct. 8 - While their old school friends are walking up the aisle1, China's homosexuals have been left on the shelf.

 

Despite the nation's rapid development, society remains2 deeply conservative, and gay weddings are unimaginable for the majority of citizens.

 

But a new generation of scholars is challenging the idea that marriage can only ever be between a man and a woman.

 

Professor Li Yinhe, a sociologist4 and gay rights campaigner, is leading the call for marriage and other rights for the nation's 40 million homosexuals.

 

With any discussion of sex in public still deeply taboo5, and homosexuals often ostracized6, many people have been outraged7 by her proposals.

 

However, Professor Li has been echoed by Dr Zhang Beichuan, China's leading scholar of homosexuality.

 

Legal unions for homosexuals will lead to more stable same-sex relationships, notes Zhang, adding that they will also help better protect the legitimate8 rights of same sex lovers, especially the right to inherit their deceased partner's goods.

 

But Zhou Dan, a Shanghai lawyer who is open about being a "comrade" (a euphemism9 for a homosexual), thinks otherwise.

 

Zhou has lived with his long-term lover for many years. Many would expect him to be a supporter of gay marriage, but Zhou remains non-committal.

 

"Personally, I do appreciate Professor Li for her bravery in calling for equal rights for homosexuals," Zhou noted10. "But I think demanding marriage for 'comrades' is more of a strategy rather than a realistic target."

 

Countries including the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, the United Kingdom and South Africa now recognize same sex marriage, according to Zhou.

 

However, he believes China still has a long way to go before homosexuals have the right to wed3. For starters China still lags behind other countries in terms of anti-discrimination laws necessary to protect homosexuals, he said.

 

"The government can't simply allow gay marriages. The whole legal climate surrounding homosexual relationships needs to change," Zhou said. "Only when the whole of society understands homosexuals, can we start talking about gay marriage.

 

"Currently even if the authorities give their support to gay marriage, society is too hostile for homosexuals to publicly tie the knot," Zhou added.

 

For homosexuals in China, legal marriage is a want, not a must, unlike welfare and insurance policies, said Zhou, citing the situation in other countries where a citizen's welfare benefits can be shared with his or her legal spouse11.

 
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1 aisle qxPz3     
n.（教堂、教室、戏院等里的）过道，通道
参考例句：
  • The aisle was crammed with people.过道上挤满了人。
  • The girl ushered me along the aisle to my seat.引座小姐带领我沿着通道到我的座位上去。
2 remains 1kMzTy     
n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹
参考例句：
  • He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
  • The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。
3 wed MgFwc     
v.娶，嫁，与…结婚
参考例句：
  • The couple eventually wed after three year engagement.这对夫妇在订婚三年后终于结婚了。
  • The prince was very determined to wed one of the king's daughters.王子下定决心要娶国王的其中一位女儿。
4 sociologist 2wSwo     
n.研究社会学的人，社会学家
参考例句：
  • His mother was a sociologist,researching socialism.他的母亲是个社会学家，研究社会主义。
  • Max Weber is a great and outstanding sociologist.马克斯·韦伯是一位伟大的、杰出的社会学家。
5 taboo aqBwg     
n.禁忌，禁止接近，禁止使用；adj.禁忌的；v.禁忌，禁制，禁止
参考例句：
  • The rude words are taboo in ordinary conversation.这些粗野的字眼在日常谈话中是禁忌的。
  • Is there a taboo against sex before marriage in your society?在你们的社会里，婚前的性行为犯禁吗？
6 ostracized ebf8815809823320b153d461e88dad4b     
v.放逐( ostracize的过去式和过去分词 )；流放；摈弃；排斥
参考例句：
  • He was ostracized by his colleagues for refusing to support the strike. 他因拒绝支持罢工而受到同事的排斥。
  • The family were ostracized by the neighborhood. 邻居们都不理睬那一家人。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
7 outraged VmHz8n     
a.震惊的，义愤填膺的
参考例句：
  • Members of Parliament were outraged by the news of the assassination. 议会议员们被这暗杀的消息激怒了。
  • He was outraged by their behavior. 他们的行为使他感到愤慨。
8 legitimate L9ZzJ     
adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法
参考例句：
  • Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
  • That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。
9 euphemism DPzzJ     
n.婉言，委婉的说法
参考例句：
  • Language reflects culture and euphemism is a mirror of culture.语言反映文化,而婉语则是各种文化的一面镜子。
  • Euphemism is a very common and complicated linguistic phenomenon.委婉语是一种十分常见而又非常复杂的语言现象。
10 noted 5n4zXc     
adj.著名的，知名的
参考例句：
  • The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
  • Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。
11 spouse Ah6yK     
n.配偶(指夫或妻)
参考例句：
  • Her spouse will come to see her on Sunday.她的丈夫星期天要来看她。
  • What is the best way to keep your spouse happy in the marriage?在婚姻中保持配偶幸福的最好方法是什么？

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