The concept of ‘gay marriage’ came to TV viewers in 1977 on CBS and brought with it issues of inheritance, anti-gay job discrimination, and acceptance at a crucial moment in history, and all in the guise of comedy.

Matt Baume dissects All in the Family‘s groundbreaking episode “Cousin Liz”, the events of which shocked Archie and Edith Bunker and took audiences on a journey that would change the perception of gay people immeasurably.

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