President Obama will crowd at White House to give him time to reverse course . Obama likens struggle for gay rights with struggle of blacks for civil rights . `` As we 've seen so many times in history , once that spirit takes hold , there 's little that can stand in its way , '' he said to cheers that turned to laughs when he added : `` The truth is , when these folks protested at Stonewall 40 years ago , no one could have imagined that you or , for that matter , I would be standing here today . '' ` ` I know this is painful , and I know it can be heartbreaking , '' he says of rights denial .
President Obama will crowd at White House to give him time to reverse course . Obama likens struggle for gay rights with struggle of blacks for civil rights . ` ` I know this is painful , and I know it can be heartbreaking , '' he says of rights denial .