Is it Time for Bert and Ernie to Tie the Knot in Gay Marriage Ceremony?

I believe I once read somewhere that Sesame Street officially denied that they’re a homosexual couple – they’re just friends/roommates.

No. If they’re going to come out of the closet (and I actually liked it better when I thought they were just close friends/roomies), then we need to see a period of them dating, not just go from not at all romantically involved to married. After all, the show is for the kids, and the kids don’t have any idea about all this talk about them being closet gays.

If this isn’t a case of people taking things way too seriously I don’t know what is. It’s Sesame Street for crying out loud! Why do we have to put a label on Bert and Ernie’s relationship at all?

I’d really rather them not. Like @FutureMemory said, Sesame Street denied it. Who the hell read deep enough into a show for preschoolers to make these connections?

I agree with Leanne.

I’d vote in favor for their marriage. The Sesame Street targeted audience is in a highly developmental stage. It would be a great way to introduce same-sex relationships to the youth It might also help educate them that there is nothing wrong with it, thus potentially preventing ridicule for those that discover that they are gay or are being brought up by a same-sex couple.

If they want to introduce the topic (which I’m all for), they could do it a better way.

@Leanne1986 said it best. I would, however, be in favor of introducing a new couple in a same-sex marriage.

@Aethelflaed Yep.

I never thought anything sexual was ever occurring on Sesame Street and I don’t think it would be appropriate for the age group that watches it. Find some other icons to use. I’m all for that. Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis? Bob Hope and Bing Crosby? I know those are real humans and old, but there must be some venue besides innocent (sexually) Sesame Street. Im not sufficiently aware of current programming to suggest an appropriate one. The Pillsbury Doughboy and Tony the Tiger?

I think they would make for one lousy married couple, just saying.

They don’t even sleep in the same bed. When did it become impossible for two same sex people to be good friends?

Hey, just stop this right now, guys. I still have a crush on Ernie and I don’t want to think it could never mean anything. I’ve already accepted that we may have a problem with the haters being upset by a puppet/human pairing, don’t make him gay and dash all my hopes forever.
Geez

@JilltheTooth But puppets can’t consent…..lol.

When you say ‘is nothing sacred’ do I sense that you have an issue with gay issues being on everyone’s minds these days and what exactly is the problem with that, exactly? Besides, many characters on many children’s shows are heterosexually married and people don’t necessarily think that’s all about sex, do they? Why is it okay to imply that gay marriage is less innocent than a heterosexual one? Sesame Street writers didn’t write them as a gay couple so change.org needs to move on but other authors like JK Rowling have come forward and stated their major characters like Dumbledore were gay – did the world collapse? No, but then again…those people who’d have an issue have an issue with Harry Potter books ‘cause ‘they’re the work of the devil’ and the such.

@Blackberry : Consider yourself slapped, there, fella!

@Simone_De_Beauvoir Actually, I didn’t really like it when Rowling had Dumbledore come out. It seemed like she was changing the character to fit her politics, especially since it seemed in the beginning that McGonagall would become a love interest. I’m not against Sesame Street having gay characters, I just don’t want drastic character changes to fit the issue de jure, which it would be after so many decades of having them be just friends. And really: Would one of the Weasley brothers not have made a much better gay character?

@Blackberry

Lol! Good one.

What about hand puppets?

@Aethelflaed Well, we can never really know whether she always intended for him to be gay.

I’ve known Bert forever. He’s not gay. Can’t speak for Ernie. Still, it’s all been one big misunderstanding.

@Brian1946 Yep, we fist em’ without even asking.

No. Nothing against same sex marriage which is all about love. Bert and Ernie is a funny buddy relationship. If they become lovers, it won’t be as funny to me.

What about Big Bird and Mr. Snuffleupagus?

Yes, I would like that brilliant marriage idea. It would be easy to see which parents are homophobic and which aren’t.

@mazingerz88 That’s true, a lot of the hilarity is all “but… why do you care??!!”

@Aethelflaed I’ll never get tired listening to Ernie say the words, Bert? Bert? Bert? Hey, Bert? Lol.

And you know Bert had no choice but to respond and of course he knows he’s gonna end up getting annoyed no matter what! Ha ha ha…

I like that children are seeing that “men” can be in a loving, friendly relationship without sexual overtones.
I would be all in favor of Sesame Street incorporating gay characters, but I think Bert and Ernie are awesome as is.

Bert is in total denial about his relationship with Ernie, and Ernie really has eyes for Tinky Winky.

I don’t think they ever had a character that was even married. Plus most of the characters are kid like. That would just be weird. What should they have next? Talk about abortion, talk about politics, talk about interest rates? Its a fun, loving kid show that is suppose to teach that learning if fun. Nothing more and nothing less. Parents want their children to learn about same sex marriage or even about sex, than it should be up to the parents to discuss that. Not some kiddy show.

@Pandora None of the puppets are married that I know of, but there is at least one and possibly two married adult human couples.

@Pandora Two men being married doesn’t necessarily have to be about sex. It’s about love and acceptance of different relationships- it’s not like anyone wants Sesame Street talk about who’s the top and who’s the bottom.

@quiddidyquestions I bet Ernie is the top.

@FutureMemory No f’in way. Bert is too anal to… well… yeah.

Poor Bert and Ernie. You guys are terrible. LOL
Its a kid show. Not a Telenovela.

I don’t think Bert and Ernie getting married would desecrate Sesame Street.
I haven’t watched SS since I was a small child, so I don’t remember if there were any relationships on the show. If there are, why shouldn’t Bert and Ernie be a couple? If there aren’t, it wouldn’t really be relevant.

All this talk of Sesame Street is making me really want to watch it again!

@Leanne1986 Me too! : )

@Leanne1986 and @mazingerz88 Here is a clip of Ricky Gervais and Elmo for adults who are fans of Sesame Street.