President Obama backs rights for gay couples in New York fundraiser

Obama kicked off his evening at the LGBT Leadership Council gala at the Sheraton Hotel in midtown Manhattan. After condemning discrimination based on a person's sexual orientation or gender identity, the president drew rigorous applause when he addressed same-sex couples.

"I believe that gay couples deserve the same legal rights as every couple in this country," Obama said.

The president, who during the 2008 campaign said he wouldn't promote same-sex marriage but did support civil unions, did not use the word "marriage" in his speech. His speech came amid some frustration that Obama, even given his efforts to rescind the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy prohibiting gays from serving openly, has not gone far or fast enough in backing gay rights.

In his speech, Obama acknowledged that the "change" he'd promised wouldn't be easy, nor would it always be quick.

"I did not run for president to do easy things," he said. "It was time for us to do hard things, the big things, even if it was going to take time."