Washington ( CNN ) -- President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pledged to end violence and discrimination against gays and lesbians at home and abroad Tuesday , as the Obama administration moves to extend further benefits to gays working in the federal government . `` It 's not right , it 's not who we are as Americans , and we 're going to put a stop to it , '' Obama told a raucous White House reception honoring Gay and Lesbian Pride Month . Earlier , Clinton received several standing ovations from a standing-room only crowd of several hundred during her address at an event co-hosted by the State Department 's Office of Civil Rights and GLIFAA , the organization for Gays and Lesbians in Foreign Affairs Agencies . `` We are moving together in the right direction , '' said Clinton . `` We reaffirm our commitment to protect the rights of all human beings . '' The White House event invited politicians and government officials as well as lesbian , gay , bisexual and transgender American from across the country , including young people `` who have stood up for equality , '' said White House spokesman Shin Inouye . At a similar event last year , six months after Obama took office , participants expressed frustration over what they called a lack of progress in confronting discrimination issues that the president had promised to resolve . This time , Obama received loud applause , cheers and whistles as he cited steps his administration has taken , including a new hate crimes law , extending federal benefits to gay employees and a push for an employee discrimination bill . The Obama administration is expected to announce Wednesday that gay workers will be able to take medical leave to care for the sick or newborn children of their same-sex partners as part of the Family and Medical Leave Act , which generally allows those working for companies with 50 or more employees to take 12 unpaid weeks off to care for newborns or children with serious health issues . `` And finally , we 're going to end `` do n't ask , do n't tell , '' Obama said Tuesday of the policy that prohibits openly gay and lesbian soldiers from military service . A bill that would repeal the policy after a Pentagon review is completed in December is before Congress , the president noted . `` We have never been closer to ending this discriminatory policy , and I 'm going to keep on fighting until that bill is on my desk , '' he said to cheers . Attending the event was Janice Langbehn of Lacey , Washington , who was denied hospital visitation rights when her partner of 18 years , Lisa Pond , was stricken with a fatal brain aneurysm while on vacation in Florida . Obama mentioned her story on Tuesday , calling the way she was treated `` wrong '' and `` cruel . '' Earlier , Clinton said she is asking embassies in Africa and elsewhere to report on rights of the local lesbian , gay , bisexual and transgender communities . The State Department also is placing more attention on ensuring gays around the world have access to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment , and providing grants to human rights activists who are persecuted either because they are gay or defend gay rights , she said . `` These dangers are not gay issues . This is a human rights issue , '' Clinton said . She drew more rousing applause when she declared `` human rights are gay rights and gay rights are human rights , '' a variation on the phrase she famously delivered in Beijing 10 years ago declaring `` women 's rights are human rights . '' Clinton said she is equally concerned about creating an environment at the State Department in which gay employees feel valued and `` can give 100 percent . '' That is why , she said , she supported offering equal benefits to same-sex partners of State Department employees , a move that encouraged Obama to authorize such benefits for gays throughout the federal government . She noted the State Department also has made it easier for transgender people to change their passports and , for the first time , the agency 's `` equal opportunity statement '' will include gender identity . It already includes sexual orientation . CNN 's Suzanne Malveaux contributed to this report .
President Obama pledges to end discrimination against gays and lesbians . Obama says nation is closer than its ever been to repealing `` do n't ask , do n't tell '' policy . Obama and Secretary of Obama Clinton addressed separate gay pride events . Hillary Clinton says lesbian embassies being asked to report on U.S. , gay , bisexual and transgender rights issues .