Taiwan unveils Asia's first draft law on same-sex marriage
台湾地区公布亚洲首部“同性婚姻法”草案
unveil/ˌʌnˈveɪl/v. 公布，将...公诸于众
词根词缀：un-（否定）
相关词汇：veil（n. 面纱；遮蔽物）
draft/dræft/ n. 草图，草稿
e.g.
搭配短语：draft law 草案
Taiwan on Thursday proposed a draft law to allow same-sex marriage in Asia's first such bill.
周四，台湾地区提出了一项允许同性婚姻的“专法”草案，该“法案”为亚洲首例。
bill/bɪl/ n. 议案，法案；账单
e.g.
搭配短语：an electricity bill 电费账单
The draft law would give same-sex couples similar legal protections for marriage as heterosexuals, but marriage in civil law would remain defined as between a man and woman. Taiwan's parliament is expected to vote on the draft bill by late May, a deadline for legislation set by the constitutional court in May 2017 when it ruled that same-sex couples had the right to legally marry.
这项“专法”草案将为同性伴侣提供与异性恋者相似的婚姻法律保护。但是，在台湾“民法”中，婚姻仍将被定义为一名男性和一名女性之间的关系。台湾地区“立法院”应在 5 月底之前，就该项规定草案进行投票表决。这一“立法”的截止日期是在 2017 年 5 月设定的。当月，“立法院”判定，同性伴侣有权合法结婚。
heterosexual/ˌhetərəˈsekʃuəl/ n. 异性恋者
e.g.
词根词缀：hetero-（其他的，不同的）
语法：a man and woman man、woman共用一个a
constitutional/ˌkɑːnstɪˈtuːʃənl/ adj. 宪法的，和宪法有关的
e.g.
词性拓展：constitution（n. 宪法）
rule v 判定
However, the legislation was criticised by rights activists and conservative groups amid a heated debate over marriage equality.
然而，在关于婚姻平权的激烈讨论中，该项法规受到同性恋权益积极分子和保守派团体的批评。
legislation 这里意为法律法规，而不是立法
activist/ˈæktɪvɪst/ n. 激进主义分子，积极分子
e.g.
搭配短语：an animal rights activist 一个动物权利的支持者。
conservative/kənˈsɜːrvətɪv/ adj. 保守的，守旧的
a heated debate over ... 有关...激烈的争论
e.g.
a heated debate 同义词：a heated discussion
相关词汇：heated argument 激烈的争论
Jennifer Lu, coordinator of Marriage Equality Coalition Taiwan, said the draft did not give complete legal protections to same-sex couples. She acknowledged the pressure on the government from all sides, but said activists will continue to fight for equal rights.
台湾地区“婚姻平权大平台”的总召集人吕欣洁称，这项草案并未给予同性伴侣完全的法律保障。她承认台湾当局受到了来自四面八方的压力，但表示积极分子们将继续为平权而奋斗。
coalition/ˌkoʊəˈlɪʃn/ n. 联盟，同盟，联合体
e.g.
词根词缀：co-（共同，联合）
搭配短语：a coalition of environmental and consumer groups 环保团体和消费者团体的联盟。
Conservative groups that opposed same-sex marriage during the referendum said they will fight the draft bill too. The Coalition for the Happiness of Our Next Generation on Thursday called the draft "unacceptable".
在全民公投中反对同性婚姻的保守派团体表示，他们也将继续反对该项草案。“下一代幸福联盟”组织在周四称该项草案“令人无法接受”。
referendum/ˌrefəˈrendəm/ n.（就重大政治或社会问题进行的）全民公决，全民公投
A government official said the bill respected the referendum results, although activists had said a separate law for gay marriage was discriminatory.
尽管积极分子们称针对同性婚姻单独“立法”具有歧视色彩，但一位当局官员说该“法案“是对公投结果的尊重。
discriminatory/dɪˈskrɪmɪnətɔːri/ adj. 歧视性的，区别对待的
e.g.
词性拓展：discriminate (v.); discrimination (n.)
搭配短语：discriminatory hiring practices 差别对待的雇佣行为
"Controversies are expected about the proposal, but I really hope our homosexual friends can wait a bit longer," he said in a statement, "This might fall short of expectations, but after all it's a start."
该官员在一份声明中说道：“关于此项提案的争议是在我们预料之中的，但我恳切地希望我们的同志朋友们能再耐心等等。目前的情况可能无法达到大家的预期，但它毕竟是一个开端。”
controversy/ˈkɑːntrəvɜːrsi/ n. 争议，争论
e.g.
搭配短语：fierce controversy; heated controversy 激烈的争论
词性拓展：controversial (adj.)
homosexual/ˌhoʊməˈsekʃuəl/ adj. 同性恋的
fall short of ... 未达到预期要求
e.g.
例句：Car sales for last month fell short of the industry's expectations.上个月的汽车销量没有达到业界的期待。