Obama pledges to end 'don't ask, don't tell'

U.S. President Barack Obama pledged to end the ban on homosexuals serving openly in the military in a Washington speech Saturday but acknowledged to a cheering crowd that the policy changes he promised on the campaign trail are not coming as quickly as they expected.

"I will end 'don't ask-don't tell,"' Obama said at the annual dinner of the Human Rights Campaign, a gay civil rights advocacy group.

Obama reaffirmed his commitment to end the ban but did not give a timetable or the specifics that some activists have called for.

The law was passed by Congress in 1993 and signed by President Bill Clinton, who also promised to repeal the ban on homosexuals in the military but was blunted by opposition in the military and Congress.

"We should not be punishing patriotic Americans who have stepped forward to serve the country," Obama said. "We should be celebrating their willingness to step forward and show such courage especially when we are fighting two wars.

"I appreciate that many of you don't believe progress has come fast enough," Obama said. "Do not doubt the direction we are heading and the destination we will reach."

Obama also called on Congress to repeal the Defence Of Marriage Act, which limits how state, local and federal bodies can recognize partnerships and determine benefits. He also called for a law to extend benefits to domestic partners.

Since Obama took office in January, some advocates have complained that he has not followed through on promises on issues they hold dear and has not championed their causes from the White House, including ending the ban on gays serving openly in the military and pushing tough nondiscrimination policies.

Repeats commitment

Obama publicly has previously committed himself to repealing the "don't ask, don't tell" policy that allows gays and lesbians to serve in the military as long as they don't disclose their sexual orientation or act on it.

But Obama hasn't taken any concrete steps to urge Congress to rescind the policy, and his national security adviser last weekend would only say that Obama will focus on overturning it "at the right time."

Obama also pledged during the campaign to work for repeal of the Defence of Marriage Act. However, lawyers in his administration defended the law in a court brief.

White House aides said they were only doing their jobs to back a law that was already on the books.