Washington ( CNN ) -- President Barack Obama , speaking to a gathering of gay and lesbian activists , said Saturday that he is committed to equality , citing the repeal of the military 's `` do n't ask , do n't tell '' policy as an example . Obama said his accomplishments on gay rights issues have been substantial since he last headlined the annual National Dinner of the Human Rights Campaign , in 2009 . He acknowledged `` we have more work to do , '' including on the issue of bullying . The president currently supports same-sex civil unions , and has said his views on gay marriage are `` evolving . '' He recently announced his support of the Respect for Marriage Act , a bill that would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act , a 1996 law that defines marriage as between a man and a woman . Organizations working actively to legalize same-sex marriage say they hope Obama eventually changes his stance . While Obama spoke Saturday about equality , he did not speak on the marriage issue . The president chided participants in a Republican presidential debate last month for not rebuking members of the audience who booed a gay soldier who asked about the repeal of `` Do n't Ask , Do n't Tell . '' `` We do n't believe in standing silent when that happens , '' Obama said of the debate incident . `` You want to be commander-in-chief , you can start by standing up for the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States even when it is not politically convenient . '' After the debate , former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum said he had n't heard the booing when the question was asked . Santorum was being asked the question when the incident occurred . Obama spoke of growing tolerance measured , he said , by ordinary Americans : . `` A father realizes he does n't just love his daughter but also her wife . '' Joe Solmonese , president of the Human Rights Campaign , said after the speech that Obama reaffirmed commitment to lesbian , gay , bisexual and transgender Americans . `` It was a remarkable experience to see openly gay and lesbian uniformed service members in the audience be able to salute their commander in chief '' about the repeal of `` Do n't Ask , Do n't Tell . '' Obama 's remarks were delivered to a key constituency that has n't always been receptive to the president 's policies and style of leadership . `` I 'd like to see the president bring his message of support for the freedom to marry to a broader audience , perhaps in a conversational setting , so that all Americans can hear him talk about why marriage matters to loving gay and lesbian couples and their families , '' said Evan Wolfson , the founder and president of Freedom to Marry . `` It is important that the president lay out the case for Americans opening their hearts to the values of fairness and treating others as they would want to be treated . '' Wolfson , along with other organizations advocating for legal same-sex marriages , said the Obama administration had made significant progress on some issues , but that support for marriage equality was still an important goal . `` We applaud the administration 's progress , while we also encourage him to 'evolve faster ' on supporting full marriage equality , '' Stuart Gaffney , media director for Marriage Equality USA , said Saturday . He said he was n't aware of any opposition within his organization to the HRC 's selection of Obama as their keynote speaker . `` We look forward to the day soon when our president stands with that pro-equality majority , '' Gaffney added . The Log Cabin Republicans , an organization that represents gay and lesbian conservatives , said Obama 's appearance Saturday night was more about politics than substantive policy change . `` President Obama 's appearance at the Human Rights Campaign Dinner this evening is more emblematic of their role as an ostensibly partisan organization than a representation of the gay and lesbian community , '' said Christian Berle , the group 's deputy executive director . Berle said Obama 's stance on gay marriage did n't match that of most Americans . `` As all Americans are becoming open to marriage equality , the president is taking a retreat , '' Berle said . `` Instead he is turning to the gay community for money and applause . `` If the president wants to deserve all the money and adulation he has already received from the gay community , he should announce his firm support for everyone 's freedom to marry , '' Berle said . Saturday 's event was expected to draw 3,000 gay activists , and took place at a convention center in downtown Washington . The speech was streamed live online . A CNN/ORC International poll taken Sept. 9-11 showed 53 % of Americans believe marriages between gay and lesbian couples should be considered valid . That number has steadily been rising in CNN/ORC International polls since 2008 . CNN 's Athena Jones contributed to this report .
NEW : President tweaks GOP hopefuls over debate incident . Obama says he will continue to advocate for equality . Romney responds by saying the president is "playing politics with our military and veterans" Score: But some critics say he has done too little to advance same-sex marriage .