With all the hoo-hah surrounding gay marriage being legalised in New York state in July, a petition has been started online to get long-time muppet ‘bro’s’ Bert and Ernie from Sesame Street to the marriage altar.

A couple of thousand people have indicated their desire to see the two hitched after a forty year TV bromance. Cue the religious right nearly exploding with fury… but a deeper question troubles this writer.

Are they even in love? The evidence is split: Sesame Street has officially denied the two are gay, or in love, in response to the petition. They’ve never officially dated, unless you count their long history of learning to count together.

Then again, Bert and Ernie have been co-habiting for a long time, since their debut on the childrens’ serial in 1969. Late last year, speculation of their feelings for each other gathered to fever pitch when gay entertainment site, AfterElton picked up a tweet from Bert where he complained his hair was, quote “a little more ‘mo’ than ‘hawk“. Hmm.

With regard to the marriage itself, there is precedent: the gay puppet couple from Broadway puppet smash, Avenue Q, got married in July this year, just after New York legitimised same-sex unions. If it’s good enough for Rod and Ricky…

[Source: The Daily, Gothamist, AfterElton]