WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama is chipping away at his long list of promises to gay voters but has yet to win the enthusiastic backing of the reliably Democratic voting bloc.
The Obama White House has accomplished more than any other on gay rights, yet has drawn sharp criticism from some of those who stand to benefit from the president's efforts.
Instead of the sweeping change gays and lesbians had sought, a piece-by-piece approach has been the administration's favored strategy, drawing neither serious fire from conservatives nor lavish praise from activists.
He promised to continue to fight for full benefits, including health care, for same-sex partners, and also pledged to make good on his campaign promise to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays in the military. That's the 1993 law that allows gay people to serve only if they hide their sexual orientation.