No one can forget Sesame Street as a child, no one can defy the relationship between Bert and Ernie either. In recent events taken place within the LGBT community, over 900 people agree that having Bert
and Ernie marry on the show will help educate our youth.
Lair Scott, a Illinois resident started a petition in efforts to progress the acceptance of LGBTs throughout the nation. The petition began after New York became the sixth state to allow same-sex marriage this past June. Due to the mass media flocking over the increased suicides due to the pressure LGBT kids must endure, Scott wants all children to learn that they are beautiful no matter what. Who else could say it better than America’s favorite PBS show?
The petition letter reads: “In this horrific age of LGBT kids taking their own lives, they need to know that they ARE BEAUTIFUL and their lives are worth living. Aside from those that are committing suicide, the bullies that facilitate these tragedies need to learn that homophobia is NOT okay. They need to know that acceptance of their fellow human beings would indeed plant a seed of peace that will reverberate throughout the world. We are not asking that Sesame Street do anything crude or disrespectful by allowing Bert & Ernie to marry. It can be done in a tasteful way. Let us teach tolerance of those that are different. Let Sesame Street and PBS Kids be a big part in saving many worthy lives. ”
Sesame Street has been known to tackle hard-hitting controversies in the past, including; divorce, racial diversity, death and self-acceptance. However, when the Children’s Television Workshop was asked about the sexual-orientation of the puppets, they denied any claim that the two are gay.
Plenty may agree with this petition, but others believe that making Bert and Ernie tie the knot would only confuse the youth. Can’t two males live together and merely develop a friendship? Just because two men live together doesn’t mean they are sexually interested in one another.
Whatever the network decides to do, this online push for progress has given even more light to the nation’s problem with acceptance. Targeting children at a young age may or may not be the answer, but it’s a step in the right direction.
Check out the Facebook fan page here: https://www.facebook.com/BertAndErnieMarriage?sk=wall