Sesame Street - Sesame Street Confirm Bert And Earnie Are Not Gay

Chicago resident Lair Scott, who started the petition, said, "We are not asking Sesame Street to do anything crude or disrespectful.It can be done in a tasteful way. Let us teach tolerance of those that are different". However, a rival petition urging bosses to reject the idea also appeared on the site and gained a healthy following. Followers of the latter petition will be pleased to learn Sesame Workshop have issued a statement claiming the famous duo are 'just good friends', saying, "Bert and Ernie are best friends. They were created to teach pre-schoolers that people can be good friends with those who are very different from themselves". The statement went on to explain that even though the Muppets have human traits and characteristics, they do not have sexual orientation and are therefore neither gay nor straight.

Bert and Ernie were the only Muppet characters to appear in the Sesame Street pilot episode in 1969. They are currently performed by puppeteers Eric Jacobson and STEVE WHITMIRE.