President Barack Obama says he's still “wrestling” and “evolving” on gay marriage.

Before he signed repeal of “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” on Wednesday, the president spoke with gay glossy The Advocate.

In the wide-ranging interview, Obama praised Congress for repealing the 1993 law that bans gay and bisexual troops from serving openly. He said that he is “incredibly proud.”

The president made headlines in October when he told a gay blogger, Joe Sudbay of Americablog.com, that gay marriage is an issue “I think a lot about.”

“I have been to this point unwilling to sign on to same-sex marriage primarily because of my understandings of the traditional definitions of marriage,” Obama told Sudbay.

“But I also think you're right that attitudes evolve, including mine.”

“And I think that it is an issue that I wrestle and think about because I have a whole host of friends who are in gay partnerships. I have staff members who are in committed, monogamous relationships, who are raising children, who are wonderful parents.”

“I think it's fair to say that it's something that I think a lot about,” he added.

On Wednesday, he reiterated his statement, saying only that he continues to “wrestle” with the issue.

“The sentiment I expressed then is still where I am – which is, like a lot of people, I'm wrestling with this,” Obama said. “My attitudes are evolving on this. I have always firmly believed in having a robust civil union that provides the rights and benefits under the law that marriage does. I've wrestled with the fact that marriage traditionally has had a different connotation. But I also have a lot of very close friends who are married gay or lesbian couples.”