Jane Lynch Disappointed In Obama's Gay Rights Agenda

President Obama has received backlash from his political base for dashing the expectations of some of his most ardent followers, and his Hollywood champions, so vocal for him in 2008, have been some of the harshest critics. Count Jane Lynch among those disappointed.

The openly gay 'Glee' star - married on this past Memorial Day to psychologist Lara Embry - spoke with Dan Savage, founder of the 'It Gets Better' campaign, about the state of gay America. And she was not pleased with the President's progress.

"We thought the great hope of Obama was going to magically change all that, and it doesn't seem to have... He's just nicely walking the middle," she says.

She then observed that Don't Ask, Don't Tell did not seem like it would be overturned thanks to John McCain (it was later - on Saturday - voted out by the Senate), and when Savage says, "F**k John McCain," Lynch concurs: "Yeah, I say it too, to the second power."

Lynch then remarks that she agrees with the premise (but, not specifically the specific case) of Savage's suspicion that Supreme Court Justice Antonin is gay, saying, "Totally! The next religious person who tells you there's something wrong with being a homosexual, start the countdown. It's psychology 101--the people who are the loudest and hate it the most hate something in themselves."

To read much more from the interview, including Lynch's struggle in coming out, click over to Newsweek.

Comments

[dawn9476]

10:59 AM on 12/29/2010

I love Jane but she should really be throwing stones at Obama considering she works for Rupert Murdoch, whose new division is anti-gay rights and one of their main priroties is to fight against gay rights? She should be going after her boss at Fox more than Obama.

[ZenSufi]

09:09 PM on 12/28/2010

Jane Lynch knows how politics works. She knows that her complaining will only help Obama in 2012.

[Jason N]

01:00 PM on 12/28/2010

The repeal of DADT was pure luck. Obama's strategy for repeal failed, twice! Liebermann and Collins bailed him and the worthless Harry Reid out. Credit to them, Pelosi, and those who refused to "be quiet" like many of our fellow Democrats routinely hammered us to do. Obama and Reid get zero credit. Their weak, pin it to the defense bill so people can hide behind that instead of having to say I voted for gay rights and gay rights alone, was a horrible, horrible failure.

[DD2005]

05:37 PM on 12/23/2010

I'm shocked!!! Someone actually believed a politician and is now upset that their agenda is not being carried out as promissed?

That's the game....make promisses you can't keep at or near election time and deal with it later.

I'm actually ashamed that she's only getting this now!

[mplsdiva]

05:22 PM on 12/23/2010

I believe that the POTUS is doing all he can for ALL Americans. The repeal of DADT is a great victory and I am happy for it. I am not gay so I do not get the frustration that the LBGT Community feels. However as a fellow American I say please stop beating up the guy who seems to be in your corner.

[fieldon13]

02:59 PM on 12/23/2010

I don't like the way Pres. Obama caves on some issues but Ms Lynch and others blame the President for not getting much done but nobody seems to remember that the Republicants are blocking nearly 400 bills from moving through. Ms Lynch needs to look at what Obama has done for gay rights compared to previous presidents. Just say thank you and move on.

[libwithaclue]

11:12 AM on 12/23/2010

She should have kept her yap shut.

[esalter]

12:17 PM on 12/23/2010

She's absolutley right.

[mplsdiva]

05:12 PM on 12/23/2010

I disagree with Jane. How much do Gays want him to do? The repeal of DADT is a great win. However all I hear from the Gay community is more complaining. GEESH!

[Ioan Lightoller]

12:18 PM on 12/23/2010

No, actually as an American citizen, she has every right to speak her mind. What you have the right is to either refute or agree with her point. What is this mean spiritedness in this country that suddenly everyone who doesn't agree with what someone thinks is supposed to shut their mouth. Sorry but debate is part of America. We still have the right of free speech--or would you like to see that abridged?

[libwithaclue]

03:52 PM on 12/23/2010

I don't hear Barney Franks yapping and he could do the president a lot more damage than some self-important actress. He's got as much stake in this as anyone else. He knows how the system works and chooses to work with the president to do as much as he can, when he can. He chooses not to destroy any chance of getting anything done for a generation. With freedom of speech comes responsibility. Say what you want, but know what you say has consequences; good and bad.Hurting the president will only bring bad consequences for the GLBT community.

[LaughingMan]

08:35 AM on 12/23/2010

Okay everybody, hands up if, like me, you just knew that the whining and griping like spoilt brats was NOT going to end even if DADT was repealed like it was.

Hands up.

And hands up if you also believe, nay if you know that the whining will still continue even if DOMA is eliminated, along with things like Prop 8 and marriage is legalized in most states.

Hands up if you think that these guys are still going to be whining and using Obama like a pinata even if he fulfills 100% of his campaign promises (he's currently at 85%, so there's that).

Anybody?

[deschl]

10:09 AM on 12/23/2010

hands up there just is no pleasing em, guess thats why we have a republican congress, so we can really move this gay agenda along

[libwithaclue]

11:08 AM on 12/23/2010

Mine are up. They won't be satisfied until they see him prancing around DC in pink hot pants in a Pride parade. The guy is the POTUS, for God sakes, not some gay activist.

[Ioan Lightoller]

12:21 PM on 12/23/2010

Get over yourself. Why should we be waiting for rights which never should have been denied us in the first place. Do you have the right to marry the one you love? Do you have to worry that you may lose your job or be evicted if your sexual orientation becomes known? We are not spoiled children--we are taxpaying adults who obey the law and we are not going to quit asking for our rights just to make others comfortable.

[LaughingMan]

06:45 PM on 12/23/2010

Lib with a clue
and now Lib with fan #220

[KenClay]

08:05 AM on 12/23/2010

Lots Of Closets in the Conservative Party ... But I must Say The Way They Take Care of themselves I Politely say..... STAY IN THE CLOSET!

[robjh1]

07:50 AM on 12/23/2010

Well honey join the club. I lot of other people are disappointed at his performance. What did you think? He would be able to change everything he promised without compromising or the wave of a magical wane? It's politics. Wake up.

[joeblow]

06:39 AM on 12/23/2010

Hell, I'm far more interested in what Jane Lynch feels about the payloads carried by the land-based ICBM missiles the Russians have. That, of course, and the evolving tecnology in American submarines with stealth capabilities. She's always good for thoughtful, insightful and erudite opinion on those matters.

We love you, Jane!!

[escobar]

12:04 AM on 12/23/2010

Poor Jane guess she should have voted for McCain .

[Shelia Washington]

08:33 AM on 12/23/2010

Yea, Poor Jane I have not heard you say you were disappointed with Bush Gay agenda, oops there wasn't one. Was this brought up ten years ago, when the Republicans were in charge. President Obama is not Jesus, he can't things overnight nor does he walk on water! The President is just that The President. If you want someone who can make changes just by sitting at his desk and signning off on everything that everyone wants I suggest you move to Cuba, China, North Korea (to name a few) there are other pressing issues like wars, children going to bed hungry, unemployment, the economy. So be thankful he got DADT done and stop complaining, better yet stick to acting.

[esalter]

12:18 PM on 12/23/2010

No the president should realize he needs the gay vote. And stop pandering to a certain groups churches.

[Evan Meinert]

02:07 PM on 12/23/2010

He is going to get it either way because gay people are not going to vote for republicans who basically think gays are second class citizens.

[mplsdiva]

05:18 PM on 12/23/2010

OMG. I do not understand why Gays are mad at Obama. He is the only POTUS that has EVER helped you.

[msoverall]

10:07 PM on 12/22/2010

What these folks fail to realize is that they elected a President, they didn't appoint a King who can do what he wants. Get a grip, there's a recession and two wars, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.

[mplsdiva]

05:19 PM on 12/23/2010

Thank you!!!!!

[libwithaclue]

08:26 AM on 12/24/2010

Yep. F&F

[carnitine]

09:06 PM on 12/22/2010

"and when Savage says, "F**k John McCain," Lynch concurs: "Yeah, I say it too, to the second power." and right back at to the both of you. Obama is not a gay so why on earth would he care about the gay agenda, the LGBT keeps ticking people off by trying to force everyone to see the world their way and they wonder why they are hated.

[tomjonesatthirty]

09:30 PM on 12/22/2010

Yep, people hate the LGBT community because they try to force an agenda. It has NOTHING to do with the people who hate them at all, does it?

[carnitine]

08:10 PM on 12/23/2010

The LGBT is just a euphemism for Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei

[kevinbaja]

09:04 PM on 12/22/2010

magic ??? potus is now supposed to be harry potter ? there are (angry) elephants to deal with, they don't respond to "magic".......