Sesame Street's Bert and Ernie Will Not Marry in New York City

When gay marriage became legalized in New York State this June, gay and lesbian couples flocked to the altar – including puppets from the Off Broadway musical, Avenue Q.

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Sesame Street fans are now calling for Bert and Ernie, staples of the long running PBS children’s show, to get hitched as well. There’s only one problem: Bert and Ernie aren’t gay.
 
“Bert and Ernie are best friends. They were created to teach preschoolers that people can be good friends with those who are very different from themselves,” said Sesame Workshop in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. “Even though they are identified as male characters and possess many human traits and characteristics (as most Sesame Street Muppets do), they remain puppets, and do not have a sexual orientation.”

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The puppets, who have shared a residence in the basement of 123 Sesame Street for more than 40 years, were long-rumored to be a thinly veiled same-sex couple. The duo shares a bedroom, but sleep in separate twin beds on the show.
 
In a petition started by Lair Scott, more than 900 people have signed on in the hopes of seeing the best buddies tie the knot in New York City. Read the petition below (via Huffington Post):
 
In this horrific age of LGBT kids taking their own lives, they need to know that they ARE BEAUTIFUL and their lives are worth living. Aside from those that are committing suicide, the bullies that facilitate these tragedies need to learn that homophobia is NOT okay. They need to know that acceptance of their fellow human beings would indeed plant a seed of peace that will reverberate throughout the world. We are not asking that Sesame Street do anything crude or disrespectful by allowing Bert & Ernie to marry. It can be done in a tasteful way. Let us teach tolerance of those that are different. Let Sesame Street and PBS Kids be a big part in saving many worthy lives.

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Avenue Q’s resident newlyweds, Rick and Rod, made it official in a small ceremony outside City Hall earlier this summer. They were joined by fellow puppet, Kate Monster, as well as their trusty puppeteers.