Celebrity lesbian Sara Gilbert hosts US talkshow on motherhood
July 29th, 2010 by Siobhan.McGuirk
Mainstream US cable channel CBS has launched a new panel show hosted by former Roseanne star Sara Gilbert. The openly gay mother of two is also co-creator and executive producer of the programme, which promises audiences “a mother’s view” of current affairs.
The format of The Talk is similar to that of popular US show The View and British equivalent Loose Women. The launch coincides with CBS president Nina Tassler promising to “swish it up a bit” by increasing gay presence on the network. Tassler made the comment in response to the GLADD (The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) Network Responsibility Report into fair accurate and diverse portrayals of LGBT people on television. The report found the channel to “continue to lag behind competitors” and it received a “failing” rating overall.
Although Gilbert’s presence marks a forward step for lesbian visibility, the star’s bio for the show does not mention her partner, Alison Adler. Apparently surprised by the attention this omission has raised, Gilbert said “I’ve never really discussed my personal life”, adding that, “a CBS press release wasn’t the place” to discuss her private life. She conceded, however, that she will have to change her stance on the issue now.
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