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

The US president Barack Obama has said he will end the ban on serving military personnel being openly gay.

The US military currently imposes a 'don't ask, don't tell' policy, which only allows gay people to serve in the military if they do not reveal their sexual orientation.

Mr Obama addressed America's largest gay group, the Human Rights Campaign, ahead of a large gay rights protest march.

'We should not be punishing patriotic Americans who have stepped forward to serve the country,' Mr Obama said. 'We should be celebrating their willingness to step forward and show such courage.'

Mr Obama has faced criticism for not tackling the issue sooner, and gave no time frame of when the policy would be repealed. But he attempted to quash concerns, saying: 'I appreciate that many of you don't believe progress has come fast enough. Do not doubt the direction we are heading and the destination we will reach.'

The Human Rights Campaign, which is the US's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, said after Mr Obama's speech at the 13th Annual National Dinner:

'He made it crystal clear that he is our strongest ally in this fight, that he understands and, in fact, encourages our activism and our voice even when we're impatient with the pace of change. But these remarks weren't just for us, they were directed to all Americans who share his dream and ours of a country where 'no one is denied their basic rights, in which all of us are free to live and love as we see fit.'

'And we heard unequivocally about the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell: 'I am working with the pentagon, its leadership and members of the house and senate to end this policy. I will end Don't Ask, Don't Tell. That is my commitment to you.'

'Finally, we heard something quite remarkable from the president: 'You will see a time in which we as a nation finally recognize relationships between two men or two women as just as real and admirable as relationships between a man and a woman.'

'This was a historic night when we felt the full embrace and commitment of the president of the United States. It's simply unprecedented.'