I've spoken about this recently. As I've said, my feelings about this are constantly evolving.

I struggle with this. I have friends, I have people who work for me, who are in powerful,

strong, long-lasting gay or lesbian unions. And they are extraordinary people, and this

is something that means a lot to them and they care deeply about.

At this point, what I've said is, is that my baseline is a strong civil union that provides

them the protections and the legal rights that married couples have. And I think --

and I think that's the right thing to do. But I recognize that from their perspective

it is not enough, and I think is something that we're going to continue to debate and

I personally am going to continue to wrestle with going forward.

Q But the military does not recognize civil unions, right?

THE PRESIDENT: I understand. And as I said, this is going to be an issue that is not unique

to the military -- this is an issue that extends to all of our society, and I think we're all

going to have to have a conversation about it.