EL PASO, Texas -- El Paso gay activists expressed their frustrations Wednesday as President Barack Obama announced an increase in benefits for same sex partners of federal employees.

Many in the gay community said while it is a step, it is no where near enough.

The benefit increase will allow federal employees to add insurance for long term conditions, like Alzheimer’s, for their partners and allow the employee to take sick time to care for their partner or partner's child.

The decision will not entitle partners to regular health or retirement benefits.

"Practically, people need things like health benefits and retirement benefits and death benefits from their partners. I mean that's an intimate part of partnership," said Brenda Risch, director of UTEP’s women’s studies department.

"We see ourselves as equals to straight Americans, to all the other people that live in the United States," said Sam Aguilera, co-founder of Puentes LGBT Resources.

The small changes in federal employee benefits come with increasing frustrations from the gay community toward Obama.

Many have taken issue with the fact that he has not repealed the Army’s ‘Don't Ask, Don't Tell’ policy as he promised during his campaign. They are also angry that he has not repealed the Defense of Marriage Act, which mandates marriage as a man and a woman by the Department of Justice.

While disappointed, the community will remain optimistic.

"I do hope that he might still, yeah I do, and I still have hope,” Risch said.