( CNN ) -- President Barack Obama took his act to New York on Thursday as the featured attraction at three back-to-back fundraisers , where he touted his progressive credentials , including support for equal rights for gay couples . Obama kicked off his evening with a dinner that cost $ 35,800 a plate at Daniel , Chef Daniel Boulud 's Upper East Side restaurant . Then he headed several blocks south to the LGBT Leadership Council gala at the Sheraton Hotel in midtown Manhattan . After condemning discrimination based on a person 's sexual orientation or gender identity , the president drew rigorous applause when he addressed same-sex couples . `` I believe that gay couples deserve the same rights as every couple in this country , '' Obama said . The president , who during the 2008 campaign said he would n't promote same-sex marriage but did support civil unions , did not use the word `` marriage '' in his speech . His speech came amid some frustration that Obama , even given his efforts to rescind the military 's `` do n't ask , do n't tell '' policy prohibiting gays from serving openly , has not gone far or fast enough in backing gay rights . In his speech , Obama acknowledged that the `` change '' he 'd promised would n't be easy , nor would it always be quick . `` I did not run for president to do easy things , '' he said . `` It was time for us to do hard things , the big things , even if it was going to take time . '' About 600 people paid $ 1,250 apiece to attend the event . They included Jane Lynch of `` Glee '' and the night 's master of ceremonies , Neil Patrick Harris of `` How I Met Your Mother . '' Before the event , the Republican National Committee jabbed at Harris ' show , putting out an e-mail titled `` Legen - Wait for it , '' which is a blog for updates on `` How I Met Your Mother . '' The e-mail went on to say `` Obama heads to the Big Apple for a round of celebrity-studded fundraisers while Americans are desperate for economic leadership from the president . '' The third fundraiser for Obama was a performance of `` Sister Act '' at the Broadway Theater , for hundreds of guests , including actor Whoopi Goldberg . Tickets for the performance started at $ 100 per person . Earlier Thursday , in a release ahead of the president 's fundraisers , RNC spokesman Ryan Tronovitch said that `` while President Obama tries to escape the pressures of his failed economic policies with a fundraiser in New York , millions remain out of work and are beginning to realize that the only job our president is concerned about is his own . '' The Democratic National Committee was quick to respond . `` Republicans are getting hammered in their districts from coast-to-coast for embracing a plan that kicks seniors to the curb by ending Medicare and because they have not presented a single idea in the past six months to create jobs . Republicans would fare better if they spent more time working to find solutions to the nation 's problems rather than engaging in typical , cheap Washington political tricks , '' DNC Communications Director Brad Woodhouse said in a statement to CNN . The money raised from the fundraisers will go to the Obama Victory Fund , with the proceeds shared by the president 's re-election campaign and the Democratic National Committee . This is the second night this week Obama has headlined fundraisers . He was the main attraction at two fundraisers at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in the nation 's capital Monday . Vice President Joe Biden headlined a fundraiser in Chicago on Tuesday . Democratic sources said the Obama Victory Fund hopes to bring in $ 60 million by the end of the second quarter , which comes to a close at the end of the month . Most people remember that Obama shattered all records by raising nearly $ 750 million in his bid for the White House in 2008 , but what is n't as well known is that he brought in $ 59 million for his presidential campaign during the first half of 2007 . CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report .
Barack Obama attends 3 fundraisers in New York on Thursday . He tells a gay advocacy group that `` gay couples deserve the same rights '' Having previously backed civil unions , Obama does n't mention `` marriage '' A Republican group criticizes the `` celebrity-studded '' fundraisers in advance .