Obama Says Gays and Lesbians have 'A Friend in the White House'

President Barack Obama reaffirmed his stance as an advocate for gay rights saying that gays and lesbians have a "friend in the White House," during an interview with Brian Williams in a two-part series on the workings of the White House Wednesday.  The president also reiterated his position as an advocate for gay rights who supports civil unions but not same-sex marriage on the federal level, the Advocate reported.

While Obama did not mention the federal law prohibiting the federal government from acknowledging gay marriages performed in the various states that allow it, he said Wednesday that "it doesn't make sense for the federal government to get in the business of determining what marriage is." He added, "I have consistently committed myself to civil unions, making sure that [same-sex couples] have the ability to visit each other in hospitals, that they are able to access benefits, that they have a whole host of legal rights that they currently do not have."

During his campaign for the presidency, Obama acknowledged the more that 1,100 rights and responsibilities denied to gay and lesbians under federal regulations, Advocate.com reported.