WASHINGTON ( CNN ) -- President Obama hosted a White House reception Monday in honor of Lesbian , Gay , Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month , but faced criticism for not keeping campaign promises to the community . President Obama signed same-sex benefits legislation earlier this month . `` I continue to support measures to bring the full spectrum of equal rights to LGBT Americans , '' the president said in a proclamation this month . `` These measures include enhancing hate crimes laws , supporting civil unions and federal rights for LGBT couples , outlawing discrimination in the workplace , ensuring adoption rights , and ending the existing 'do n't ask , do n't tell ' policy in a way that strengthens our armed forces and our national security . '' But critics say it 's too little , too late . A memorandum signed this month by Obama means same-sex partners of civil service employees can be added to the long-term care program , employees can use their sick leave to take care of domestic partners , and children and same-sex partners of Foreign Service employees will be included in medical evacuations and housing allocations , according to the White House . But it does not extend full health care coverage , which would require an act of Congress . `` It seems to me at least to be a nice gesture , but a disappointment , '' Richard Kim , a senior editor at The Nation magazine , said at the time . `` It will absolutely be seen as something good . But I think , for example , it not including full health insurance , that is going to put a real microscope on that question . You know , why not ? '' Kim said , adding that memo applies only to federal employees , so most people will not be affected by it . The extension of health and retirement benefits to same-sex partners is prohibited under the Defense of Marriage Act . Family Research Council President Tony Perkins said the entire memorandum violates the act . `` President Obama 's ... executive order uses taxpayer money to placate an angry portion of his base at the expense of the rule of law , '' Perkins said this month in a written statement . `` This order raises the question of whether the president has the authority to ignore ( the Defense of Marriage Act ) and bypass the legislative process . '' Charles Moran , the spokesman for the Log Cabin Republicans , said the lack of full benefits in the June 18 memorandum shows a lack of commitment to the gay community . `` That 's the part that just shows that the Obama administration really is n't serious about their promises to the gay and lesbian community . Things like the health benefits , things like retirement benefits and coverage for spouses -- these are the core issues , '' Moran said . He said Obama has had multiple opportunities to fulfill his promises to the gay and lesbian community -- including by repealing the military 's do n't ask , do n't tell policy and standing against the Justice Department motion filed this month in support of the Defense of Marriage Act . `` Here we are , several months after he 's been inaugurated , and we 've gotten basically nothing . So it is too little , too late , '' Moran said . Obama said he still wants to repeal the act , as he advocated during last year 's election campaign . `` I believe it 's discriminatory . I think it interferes with states ' rights , and we will work with Congress to overturn it , '' he said . Obama frequently spoke in favor of gay and lesbian rights during the presidential campaign , but also has said he opposes same-sex marriage . In the run up to his inauguration , he declared himself `` a fierce advocate for gay and lesbian Americans . '' Given the support Obama received from the gay community during the campaign season , Kim said , so far the Obama administration has let gay and lesbian rights activists down . Obama got 70 percent of the vote from those who identified themselves as gay , lesbian or bisexual , according to CNN exit polls . `` I think there is an overwhelming feeling that he has not lived up to expectations on these matters , '' he said . Obama is the second U.S. president to recognize the community . Bill Clinton designated June 2000 as Gay and Lesbian Pride month .
Obama stops short of giving full health care coverage to same-sex partners . President 's support for gay issues does n't go far enough , some say . Obama 's actions `` too little , too late , '' say GOP gay leader .