Obama: 'Don't ask, don't tell' ending on his watch

President Barack Obama says the military's ban on gays serving openly in the military will end on his watch.

Speaking at a town hall meeting of young adults Thursday, Obama said he believes anyone who wants to serve in the military should be allowed to do so regardless of sexual orientation.

However, Obama says he can't end the "don't ask, don't tell" law with an executive order and is urging Congress to repeal it.

The president did not discuss his administration's response to a California judge's order that would allow gays to serve openly in the military. The Justice Department has asked the judge to allow the policy to remain in place during an appeal.

(This version revises the short headline to correct that Obama said the "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays in the military will end on his watch, not that he will end it.)