While it seems ridiculous to me that was an actual debate going on over the sexual orientation of puppets, Sesame Street issued a statement today declaring Sesame Street's Bert and Ernie are just friends.

A few weeks ago, a campaign to get the duo united in holy matrimony sprang up in an online petition and Facebook page. Supporters sought to get B & E hitched,  arguing that an official pairing would be a win for gay rights and send a message to viewers about tolerance and equality.

While that message is an important one, Sesame Street says they're already sending it. They released this statement today:

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.

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.

Reporter for E! News , Gina Serpe, makes a good point:

Uh, guess we'll just ignore Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy's decades of simmering, flirtatious sexual tension, then, shall we?

While I can see the group who launched the petition to get B & E married had good intentions, I don't necessarily think that Sesame Street is the right medium for the message.

What do you think?

 

 

 

 

 

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