Progressive Democrats of America, with more than 100 national and grassroots organizations, have signed on to a letter to the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) calling for a vote against the FY 2012 Defense Appropriations bill, slated to come before the House this week. The letter raises grave concerns that the bill not only allocates $648.7 billion for continued operations of the Pentagon, but $118 billion to continue the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The tenor and tone of William Rodriguez-Kennedy’s recent editorial in LGBT Weekly on redistricting comes off as condescending, and aloof, when you consider that he mentions his recent move into District 3. As if he has an oracle-like opinion on the matter, despite not fully grasping the major functions of redistricting: demographics and geography.

Editor’s note: President Barack Obama spoke to LGBT civil rights leaders from 6:00 to 6:10 pm EDT Wednesday, June 29, in the East Room at the White House. The remarks were supposed to have been broadcast online at White House Live, but that did not occur. The White House said the pool broadcaster did not have the capacity to broadcast online. However, you can watch a video of the speech below as well as read his remarks.

THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody! (Applause.) Welcome to the White House. (Applause.)

The Religious Right is losing the fight over cultural issues in America because it is impossible to stand on a platform whose flimsy foundation is based on the four pillars of bigotry, discrimination, homophobia and lies.

Take the hysteria over the past week in Albany, N.Y., as the New York Senate tries to take up a bill that would legalize marriage equality in the Empire State.

Numerous polls taken this year show that New Yorkers favor same-sex marriage by about 60%.