Gay marriage advocates are becoming increasingly frustrated with President Barack Obama.

Immediately following Wednesday's ruling that struck down California's gay marriage ban, known as Proposition 8, the White House issued a statement in support of the decision.

“The president has spoken out in opposition to Proposition 8 because it is divisive and discriminatory. He will continue to promote equality for LGBT Americans,” gay glossy The Advocate reported.

But an unnamed White House aide told POLITICO.com that the president does not support gay marriage, only civil unions for gay and lesbian couples.

“He supports repealing the Defense of Marriage Act [DOMA],” the aide added, referring to the law that defines marriage as a heterosexual union for federal agencies.

The next day, White House adviser David Axelrod appeared on MSNBC to reiterate the president's confusing position on gay unions.

Axelrod said the president opposed Proposition 8 because he felt it was “mean-spirited,” but emphasized that he supports recognizing gay and lesbian couples with civil unions, not marriage.

Venting on the Internet began soon after Axelrod's appearance.

“Oh yes, I've seen you and your team dancing on that [gay marriage] hotplate lately!” Tom Foreman wrote from New Orleans in an open letter to the president published Saturday on CNN's Anderson Cooper 360 blog. “David Axelrod was sweating and stammering like one of those guys who has been picked up on COPS when he was questioned about your stance. I can't blame him because it looks like you either haven't decided what you think, or are desperately trying to hide your opinion on this one.”

“Sure there is a lot of political risk in taking either stance. Everyone knows that. But what you are doing just looks spineless, wishy-washy, and like any old politician,” he added.

Writing at the Huffington Post, Marcus Baram suggested Obama's stance mirrors those of prominent Democrats that came before him, chiefly former president Bill Clinton.

Clinton, of course, signed DOMA into law, but said in 2009 that he regretted it and gave his support for gay marriage.

On Thursday, gay blogger John Aravosis began an online petition asking the president to embrace full equality.

“You simply do not support equality for gay and lesbian couples if you don't support letting them marry,” the petition reads.

Whether genuine or political calculation, Obama will be forced to explain himself in greater detail as the case wends its way to the Supreme Court, landing squarely in the middle of the 2012 presidential campaign.