TODAY IN QUEER TV HISTORY ALL IN THE FAMILY: "Judging Books by Covers" - 2/9/1971, CBS The first openly gay character ever on a U.S. sitcom appeared 50 years ago today on ALL IN THE FAMILY. It was a one-shot guest role: Archie's drinking buddy Steve (Phil Carey). The point of the story was novel for that era: that you can't spot a homosexual. It turns out that Mike's effeminate-seeming friend Roger is straight and Archie's ex-pro-ballplayer friend Steve is gay.