It's a little like the controversy last month over whether President Obama bowed to a Saudi king or just "bent over" unusually far to shake his hand. The latest dust-up involves whether the White House intentionally removed pro-gay language from its Web site in order to re-couch the president's intentions on gays in the military.

The Obama White House site included the president's commitment to repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" when it first booted up its own version of http://www.whitehouse.gov just moments after the inauguration. Many gay activists were pleasantly surprised at that time, in January, to see such a prominent inclusion of LGBT issues.

But blogger Joe Jervis – of http://www.JoeMyGod.com – discovered last week that the LGBT information had been pared back significantly and spread the word. Jervis wrote his post on April 30. The next day, some of the information that had been cut was restored to the site.

But, more troubling, noticed blogger John Aravosis – at http://www.AmericaBlog.com – the restored language on the DADT policy had gone from what it first said, stating Obama's commitment to "repealing" the policy, to saying the president "supports changing Don't Ask, Don't Tell in a sensible way that strengthens our armed forces and our national security."

DADT prohibits gays and lesbians from serving openly in the armed forces. An estimated 12,500 men and women have been discharged under the policy since its implementation in 1994.

For a president who clearly chooses his words very carefully, the edit job prompted red flags in many quarters.

Aravosis said many people he talked to saw the site changes as a "backward step" on the president's promise to repeal DADT. Kevin Nix, communications director for the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, said that group was "confused" about the change.

"Words matter," wrote Nix on the group's blog, "and these two words ["repealing" and "changing"] on this particular subject have dramatically different implications for gay and lesbian servicemembers."

Nix said SLDN Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis contacted the White House about the change but got the "standard e-mailed response about the site being revamped."

"If the White House is still in favor of 'repealing' Don't Ask Don't Tell, albeit in a 'sensible way' – and we're happy to take them at their word – then say just that," said Aravosis. "Change 'change' to 'repeal' and be done with it."

White House spokesman Shin Inouye told this reporter that the administration was simply updating its Web site and that the president is still committed to repealing the policy. And, as of Monday, May 3, the Web site was back to saying "repeal," instead of change for DADT.

To be exact, it says the president "supports repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell in a sensible way."

Inouye said that changes were made throughout the site.

"Like any Web site, there's periodic changes," said Inouye. The White House "did overhaul" its Web site – every page, not just the page on civil rights, he said.

The information about LGBT issues is contained in the civil rights section.

"But the president hasn't changed his position at all" on DADT, said Inouye, "and any suggestions otherwise are just wrong."

But the bullet points and longer explanation of Obama's positions are missing on the revamped site, compared to the initial version that was unveiled in January. Now, there is just one paragraph, under the heading "Strengthen Anti-Discrimination Laws," that contains sentences on Obama's support for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, hate crimes legislation, support for civil unions and federal rights for LGBT couples, and ensuring adoption rights for all couples, regardless of their sexual orientation.