US President Barack Obama is set to make a key speech to America's largest gay group - the Human Rights Campaign.

美国总统奥巴马将要向美国最大的同性恋团体--人权运动组织--做一场重要的演讲。

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Mr Obama has been criticised for not acting on gay rights issues

In Washington, he will outline the progress he hopes to achieve for the gay community in the coming weeks, a White House spokesman says.

But Mr Obama has been criticised for the lack of action on such issues as gay marriage and the right to serve in the military, correspondents say.

A big gay protest march is planned in Washington for Sunday.

Disquiet²

Mr Obama is due to address thousands of gay and lesbian people at a fundraising dinner in the US capital at midnight GMT on Saturday.

The US president has repeatedly pledged to tackle issues important to the gay community.

He has said he will act to repeal³（废止，撤销） the so-called "don't ask, don't tell" policy that allows gays to serve in the army as long as they do not disclose（揭露） their sexual orientation（适应，熟悉）.

But he is facing criticism for what many in the gay community see as lack of action on his promises.

"Don't ask don't tell: they talk about it being a gay issue but it's not. It's just about civil rights and equality," Julianne Sohn, a former US soldier, told the BBC.

Another issue causing disquiet among the US gay community is the issue of gay marriage, the BBC's Rajesh Mirchandani in Los Angeles says.

Mr Obama has been criticised for not delivering on his promise to repeal the Defense⁴ of Marriage Act, which limits how local and federal bodies can recognise gay partnerships⁵ and determine benefits.

In many places in America, gay people enjoy a high profile, economic and political clout⁶（巨大的影响，破布）, our correspondent says.