The continuing saga of Bronwen Tomb, who was expelled from the Coast Guard Academy in 2006 for violating the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy, reinforces the need for long-promised changes in how the armed forces treat gays and lesbians.

During last year's campaign, candidate Barack Obama promised that if elected he would push to repeal the policy that allows gays and lesbians to serve in the military as long as they don't disclose their sexual orientation or act on it. This policy, though seemingly well-intentioned as anti-discriminatory when established by President Bill Clinton in 1993, has nonetheless resulted in more than 13,000 military discharges.

Now that he is in office, President Obama appears to be dragging his heels. In an October speech to members of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay advocacy group, Mr. Obama drew cheers when he renewed his pledge to repeal the policy. But those cheers died out when he acknowledged progress has not come fast enough for most activists, and offered no timetable.

Any policy change, of course, would come too late for Ms. Tomb, who eventually earned her college degree elsewhere and finally landed a job that doesn't take advantage of her background in science. Now 26 and living in New York, she has no chance now to pursue a career in the Coast Guard.

"I liked the Coast Guard. I was doing well in the Coast Guard; I think I would have done well in the Coast Guard," she said in an article published Wednesday in The Day.

Ms. Tomb's mistake: Confiding in a fellow cadet, who turned her in.

It makes no sense that the Coast Guard was forced to kick Ms. Tomb out, just as it makes no sense any military branch must discharge a soldier, sailor, Marine or flier who comes out as a gay or lesbian.

The United States finds itself in the distinct minority of countries that allow only heterosexuals to serve in the military. Twenty-two of the 26 NATO allies have removed policies that exclude gays and lesbians from service, and nearly all allow them to serve openly.

We realize Mr. Obama has a complex agenda, especially with regard to the military, now fighting two wars. And we appreciate his preference to research issues thoroughly before acting.

But sometimes this tendency has led to accusations of dithering. It's time, Mr. Obama, to act decisively and end don't ask, don't tell.