Sesame Street Speaks

I was reading on Facebook that a petition has been started for Sesame Street room-mates & pals, Ernie & Bert, to get married.  This has become an internet sensation.  There are people who suspect that they may be gay. Really?!  Lair Scott, from Illinois, began the petition.  He stated that "We are living in a culture where LGBT kids are committing suicide at an alarming rate and having iconic characters like Bert & Ernie getting married will show children that there's nothing wrong with being gay."

People expect a TV show to tell children about same sex marriage?  Shouldn't it be up to the parents/guardians to teach their own children about these things? Same sex marriage exists and whether you agree with it or not, you're going to have to deal with it when it comes to educating your children. But I think parents should have that responsibility, not Sesame Street. And I don't think children who watch the show are old enough to comprehend it anyway.  Here's one of many comments: "Sexual relationship content of any kind - heterosexual, homosexual or otherwise - does not belong on a show targeted to preschoolers!"  I tend to agree.

Sesame Street answered the petitioners with this statement on their Facebook page, "Though the muppets have lived together for over 40 years, they simply aren't gay and were created to teach tolerance.  Bert & 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 posses many human characteristics (as most Sesame Street muppets do) they remain muppets and do not have a sexual orientation."  So I guess they won't be getting married.

I say "Kudos" to Sesame Street.