U.S. President Barack Obama is delivering the keynote address Saturday at the annual dinner of a leading gay rights group.

The Human Rights Campaign's dinner in Washington comes less than two weeks after the U.S. military ended its ban on openly gay service members.

President Obama signed legislation to repeal the policy known as “Don't ask, Don't tell,” in December.

But he has not endorsed same-sex marriage, which remains a key issue for the gay community.

Mr. Obama has said he supports civil unions, and calls his views “evolving.”

This will be the president's second time speaking at the Human Rights Campaign's annual dinner. He also was keynote speaker in 2009.

A number of U.S. jurisdictions have passed legislation legalizing same-sex marriage. New York became the most recent in June, joining Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Iowa and the District of Columbia.