WASHINGTON ( CNN ) -- President Obama delivered a rousing speech Saturday night to the nation 's largest gay rights group , praising the gay community for making strides in equal rights and pledging to deliver on major campaign promises that some say he 's left on the back burner . President Obama speaks Saturday night at the Human Rights Campaign dinner in Washington . `` For nearly 30 years , you 've advocated for those without a voice , '' Obama said during his address at the dinner for the Human Rights Campaign . `` Despite the progress we 've made , there are still laws to change and hearts to open . '' Obama 's speech came as gay rights activists continued to lose patience over the lack of change to key issues for the gay community -- including the Pentagon 's `` do n't ask , do n't tell '' policy . It comes on the eve of a major gays-rights rally in Washington . `` This fight continues now and I 'm here with the simple message : I 'm here with you in that fight , '' Obama told the applauding crowd . The Human Rights Campaign issued a statement praising the speech , saying it was a `` historic night when we felt the full embrace and commitment of the president of the United States . It 's simply unprecedented . '' Obama called for the repeal of the ban on gays in the military -- the `` do n't ask , do n't tell '' policy . `` We should not be punishing patriotic Americans who have stepped forward to serve this country , '' he said . `` I 'm working with the Pentagon , its leadership and the members of the House and Senate on ending this policy , legislation that has been introduced in the House to make this happen , I will end 'do n't ask , do n't tell . ' That 's my commitment to you . '' The president said he backed the rights of gay couples , saying they should have the `` same rights and responsibilities afforded to any married couple in this country . '' He said he has urged Congress to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and to pass the Domestic Partners Benefit and Obligations Act . Obama also touched on protection against hate crimes , noting that legislation was passed in the House this week that expanded the definition of hate crimes to include attacks based on sexual orientation and gender identity . `` I can announce that after more than a decade , this bill is set to pass and I will sign it into law , '' he said . Obama acknowledged the fact that many in the gay community do n't believe government is moving fast enough to address their concerns . `` Many of you do n't believe progress is happening . I want to be honest about that because it 's important to be honest among friends , '' he said . `` I said this before , I 'll repeat it again , it 's not important for me to tell you to be patient . '' Obama said gay people , like other Americans , are affected by myriad concerns -- namely , the economy and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq -- and stressed that he 's focusing on issues that affect the entire nation . Watch Obama say he will sign hate-crimes legislation » . `` While some may wish to define you solely by your sexual orientation or identity alone , you know and I know that none of us want to be defined by one part of what makes us whole , '' he said . `` So I know you want me working on jobs and the economy and all of the other issues that we 're dealing with . '' Still , Obama said , it 's imperative that the gay community continue to pursue the policies they support . `` It 's so important that you continue to speak out and you continue to set an example and that you continue to press your leaders , including me , and to make the case all across America , '' he said . The Human Rights Campaign in its statement praised Obama 's pledge that `` we will see a time in which we as a nation finally recognize the relationships between two men or two women . '' The group said Obama `` made it crystal clear that he is our strongest ally in this fight , that he understands and , in fact , encourages our activism and our voice even when we 're impatient with the pace of change . ''
Obama praises Human Rights Campaign for 30 years of advocacy . `` I 'm here with you in that fight , '' Obama says . Issues that affect whole nation are important to gays , too , Obama says . Obama is `` our strongest ally in this fight , '' HRC says in statement .