"Roll Over, Ward Cleaver"
Magazine article
By: Bruce Handy
Date: April 14, 1997
Source: Handy, Bruce. "Roll Over, Ward Cleaver." Time 149, April 14, 1997, 78–82.
Introduction
Over the decades, television sitcoms have dealt with social issues of their eras. In 1953, the word "pregnant" wasn't allowed on I Love Lucy, even though Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz were also married in real life. Bea Arthur's character in Maude decided to have an abortion in 1972, an issue that later became forbidden. Candice Bergen's character drew comments from Vice President Dan Quayle in 1992 when she had a child out of wedlock. Controversy was no stranger to television. All of these episodes preceded Ellen DeGeneres coming out in 1997. Though other gay and lesbian characters were part of regular television shows, none were main characters.
Until Ellen's coming-out episode, the sitcom lacked a...
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1990's Media Primary Sources
The 1990's: Primary Sources
