In a nearly 20-minute speech delivered with First Lady Michelle Obama standing at his side, President Obama paid tribute to the LGBT movement and reaffirmed his commitment to seek equality for LGBT Americans during his administration.

“I want you to know that I expect and hope to be judged not by words, not by promises I've made, but by the promises that my administration keeps,” Obama said as the 250 attendees applauded.

Addressing the frustration felt by most gay rights activists that his administration hasn’t moved quickly enough to repeal “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” and overturn the Defense of Marriage Act, President Obama said, “We've been in office six months now, and I suspect that by the time this administration's over, you guys will have pretty good feelings about the Obama administration.”

The president called on Congress to repeal what he called the “so-called” Defense of Marriage Act, yet he did not denounce the Justice Department’s brief defending DOMA filed earlier this month. “I want to add, we have a duty to uphold existing law, but I believe we must do so in a way that does not exacerbate old divides,” the president said, “and fulfilling this duty and upholding the law in no way lessens my commitment to reversing this law.”

As for “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,” the president reiterated what he said during his campaign, which is that he believes the discriminatory policy undermines the effectiveness of the military. “In fact, I believe preventing patriotic Americans from serving their country weakens our national security,” he said as the crowd cheered. “Now, my administration is already working with the Pentagon and members of the House and the Senate on how we'll go about ending this policy, which will require an act of Congress.”

However, President Obama did not seem inclined to issue an executive order to suspend “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” in the short term. “As commander in chief, in a time of war, I do have a responsibility to see that this change is administered in a practical way and a way that takes over the long term” he said, adding that he has asked the secretary of Defense and Joint Chiefs chairman to develop a plan for implementing repeal.

At the end of his speech, the president also detailed the birth of the modern gay rights movement outside the Stonewall Inn in 1969. “The truth is when these folks protested at Stonewall 40 years ago no one could have imagined that you— or, for that matter, I— would be standing here today,” President Obama said. “So we are all witnesses to monumental changes in this country.  That should give us hope, but we cannot rest. We must continue to do our part to make progress— step by step, law by law, mind by changing mind.  And I want you to know that in this task I will not only be your friend, I will continue to be an ally and a champion and a president who fights with you and for you.”