Are there seriously no comments on this yet? Must be too many people flopping on the floor in multisensory overload. Awesome pic. Shared everywhere.

Nice picture, ladies! Loved your "Best New Thing in the World", Ms. Lynch!

Great picture, and a couple of great role models. And not necessarily "gay role models" (but that's true, too), but just plain "role models," for everyone -- gay, straight, male, female, etc. Be who you are. Be true to yourself. And I think the point made on tonight's show was really important -- for straight people, once you get to know someone's who's gay, and realize that they're just a nice, normal person, just like you, it's a lot more difficult to think that they should be treated differently, or denied rights, or be cordoned off in a separate area, just because of their sexual orientation.

As a straight, middle-class, white male from a small town in the Midwest (yes, I know -- I'm planning to have a parade to apologize to everyone about everything), I didn't know any openly gay people when I was growing up. Now, I have a lot of friends who also happen to be gay. But they're not my "gay friends," they're my "friends." And, like President Obama, my feelings on same-sex marriage have evolved to the point where I looked at my friends, and thought, "How can I support denying them the same rights that I have? How can I think that these people -- my friends -- shouldn't have the same rights and the same opportunities for happiness that I have? They're good, decent people. They're just like me."

So, if I opposed same-sex marriage, I wouldn't be opposing it for a big, nameless, faceless group of people that I could demonize. I would be opposing it for my good friends Scott and Troy, who are very wonderful and decent people, very caring, very much in love and very devoted to each other. And I can't and I won't say that to them.

I don't think of Rachel as "the gay political pundit and commentator." I think of her as one of the most intelligent, entertaining, informative and classy news people I have ever seen or heard. Unlike John Boehner, she is very, very good at her job. I enjoy and appreciate what she does, and appreciate and respect the way she does it. And I feel the same about Jane Lynch (another fellow Illinoisan). They're my TV friends. And I won't turn my back on my friends, TV or otherwise.

Plus, I've learned a lot about making great cocktails from her. That's what friends are for.

I know you are both happily coupled with other women, but damn, you'd make a lovely twosome together.... My two biggest girlcrushes (and I say this as a straight woman) in one space. I feel a great disturbance in the force. As if two brilliant, witty, beautiful women were crying out to me.... Heh. Love you both, and all that you stand for. Gay rights are human rights. Until all people have these freedoms, none of us are truly free.

I watch The Rachel Maddow Show for the political insight, for the brilliant writing and analysis and because I don't know of any show that isn't "comedy" whose perspective more accurately reflects my own. So, in that vein, I didn't really know what to expect from having Jane Lynch on the show.

But what I just witnessed was probably the most upbeat and touching TRMS interview in a long time.

I fully support equal rights for everyone, including no special, extraordinary rights for people of privilege or affiliation, and have felt that way my whole life. I also have a gay brother, and I have feared for his safety most of his life, and have just wanted for him to be treated as an equal.

Just like many, many Americans, I was proud that our president became the first major world leader to publicly state that he supported gay rights. I was also incensed that he went on to say that he felt it was a state's right issue, a political copout.

It is not a state's right issue. The 14th Amendment of the Constitution clearly states that equal protection of all citizens under the law is a federal issue, and that the states can't usurp those basic guarantees (specifically that no state shall deny any person equal protection under the law). It also states in Article VI that

This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in the constitution or laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding.

meaning that judges in the states are bound to rule for equal protection for all citizens, and to nullify any law passed within state legislatures that denies that equal protection.

To me, the issue could not be more clear. But I was particularly moved by the discussion tonight between Jane and Rachel, and their acknowledgement of how dramatically the tide has been shifting towards reason, and away from ignorance and bigoted ideology. They really put a human face on this step in the right direction.

So, kudos to Rachel and Jane for a great discussion, one that touched the hearts and minds of your many viewers ... Brava!

Totally agree, Aaron. This should be settled law. If marriage is a fundamental right (and it is, under Loving) then no state has the right to deny it to anyone, and this whole process of states voting on the definition of marriage is entirely moot. Don't downplay what Obama did, though. All over the internet, people hide behind the argument, "I don't care what gay people do in their own bedrooms, but I don't want them rubbing my nose in it." It's the last-ditch argument of the secular homophobe, and it's just as ludicrous as the old suggestion, "But I have a black friend!" "I don't want them rubbing my nose in it" just means "I don't want to hear about gay rights issues, because it makes me feel funny and threatens to expose me as a narrow-minded asshat." So while pretty much everyone and their hamster knew that Obama was in favor of marriage-equality, him ACTUALLY SAYING IT OUT LOUD went directly against our unspoken agreement just not to talk about it, to spare the feelings of our homophobic brethren. By saying out loud that he believes in marriage equality, the President is calling out all of those "I don't care what you do in privacy, but..." homophobes. And he's making political hay out of it, too, because all of us liberals respond overwhelmingly - with money, time, and votes - to anyone who speaks truth to power on these issues.

I am happy for you both. Some people have truly been blessed with real and lasting friendships. Other people are still looking for unconditional love. People break rules they are unaware of and are chastised for it. I have always tried to live by the rules but, my spirit wanted to dance under the stars. I am not envious of those who have money but, my eyes well up with tears longing for the very thing the two of you have. You have found a treasure.

Nice photo......nuff said .

I have been a fan since AAR days. This was the best segment ever. It was nice that we got to see and hear your true feelings about the gay and lesbian community, same sex marriage etc. I really enjoyed it and I think you should do it more often. There were a lot of good things said. And I do believe this issue is revolving.

Just wanted to comment on something Jane said about how people's attitude changes when they get to know gay people. I'm a progressive and I've long been a proponent of equal rights for the LGBT community. My wife, however, is a pretty dyed in the wool Republican and we disagree on many, many things. But, in the last couple of years, we both have become friends with quite a few lesbians and, as a result, my wife has changed her position. She looks at some of these women in strong, loving relationships and wonders why can't they get married? She was appalled at the passing of Amendment One in North Carolina (where we used to live and still have family and friends) and is saddened with the knowledge that at one point she may have voted for it and that people that we know and love probably did vote for it. She wishes everyone else's eyes could be opened like hers were. I wish her eyes could be opened on so many other things that we still disagree on...but I'm working on it.

I want to know more about the $11 blazer!

I'm an 18 year old lesbian in high school and I just watched this segment. I'm sobbing my eyes out. Thank you. Thank you so, so very much for everything you do, for everything you say. It makes getting up in the morning and going to school that much easier because I know there are people like you who have my back. And I don't know if anyone will ever even read this (Especially not Rachel Maddow or Jane Lynch), but anyone from the show, anyone who's supportive of gay rights, thank you, you're the reason I'm still alive.

Wonderful picture! I'm going to frame it. How I wish it were the Democratic ticket in 2016! Ms. Lynch did a TERRIFIC job on the show. I think she has real potential in the entertainment industry. Thanks for another wonderful show.

I failed to understand what Jan Lynch meant by saying people who didn't fully get to understand themselves in high school becoming "failed adults" as a result.

Is it safe to turn our backs now?

Otherwise, decent interview.

This photo and the Rachel/Jane segment last night is probably one of the best, if not *the* best, "It gets better" examples I've ever seen. I too was in tears last night watching the last 10 minutes of TRMS.

And yes, I totally agree w/the comment that we need more of this! I was delighted to hear the underlying emotions of both Rachel and Jane as they talked about listening to our President support same-sex marriage.

Brava, indeed!

I'll be smiling all day now - thanks, Will! :)

Wowser. Look at the brains on them babes. Someday, when I grow up, I'll be that smart, too.

Way to go, Jane! I had to quit tearing up before I found the hyperlink! This is great film... and of course a great narrator... and that's how... Sue.. sees it! (Couldn't resist!) :-D