Obama Pledges To End 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

Quote from: SkyNews

© Sky News 2009

President Barack Obama has pledged to end the ban on homosexuals serving openly in the military during a speech at a Human Rights Campaign dinner.

But he acknowledged to the 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'," Mr Obama said to a standing ovation from the crowd of about 3,000 members of the gay civil rights advocacy group.

While the US President reaffirmed his commitment to end the ban, he did not give a timetable or the details that some activists have called for.

The law was passed by Congress in 1993 and signed by then president Bill Clinton, who also promised to repeal the ban but was met by opposition in the military and Congress.

Mr Obama has said he is working with Pentagon and congressional leaders on ending the policy.

"We should not be punishing patriotic Americans who have stepped forward to serve the country," he said.

"We should be celebrating their willingness to step forward and show such courage... especially when we are fighting two wars.

President Obama said it was no secret "our progress may be taking longer than we like".

He followed this by asking supporters to trust his administration's course.

"I appreciate that many of you don't believe progress has come fast enough," Mr Obama said.

"Do not doubt the direction we are heading and the destination we will reach."

But some campaigners said they have already heard the President's promises and now they want to be given a timeline.

Cleve Jones, a pioneer activist and creator of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, said Mr Obama delivered a brilliant speech, but added: "It lacked the answer to our most pressing question, which is when?

"He repeated his promises that he's made to us before but he did not indicate when he would accomplish these goals and we've been waiting for a while now."

President Obama also called on Congress to repeal the Defence Of Marriage Act, which limits how state, local and federal bodies can recognise partnerships and determine benefits.

He also called for a law to extend benefits to domestic partners.