Solmonese certain that Obama will overturn 'Don't ask, don't tell'

Human Rights Campaign president Joe Solmonese said in an Aug. 7 interview with U.S. News & World Report that he is "certain" President Obama will overturn the United States' ban on gays and lesbians in the military.

"The President has made the commitment, and people working for the president that we work with have made the commitment. I have no doubt it will be overturned," Solmonese told U.S. News' Dan Gilgoff.

In response to Obama's LGBT critics, Solmonese said, "I don't see [the Obama administration] dragging their feet. But where the LGBT community is feeling frustration is that the road map and timetable have not been made as clear to them. Sometimes there is simply the need for reassurance from the President."

Solmonese said that the president's speech in support of the LGBT community on June 29, the anniversary of New York's Stonewall riots, fostered more support for him within the community.