[LeatherTrumpet]

The organisation behind Sesame Street has denied co-habiting duo, Bert and Ernie, are gay, following comments by one of the show's writers.

Mark Saltzman said his writing about the room-mating couple was based on his relationship with film editor Arnold Glassman.

Sesame Workshop then issued a statement saying the pair "do not have a sexual orientation".

Bert and Ernie may look human, but the pair "remain puppets", it said. They are ladsladslads hetros.

"They were created to teach preschoolers that people can be good friends with those who are very different from themselves."

It broadly repeats past statements the non-profit organisation has made about the stripy-clothed duo when questions arose about their relationship.
Image Copyright @SesameWorkshop @SesameWorkshop
Report

Mr Saltzman made his assertion about the two in an interview with LGBTQ news site Queerty.

"I always felt that, without a huge agenda, when I was writing Bert and Ernie, they were [a couple]," he said.

Mr Saltzman joined the show in 1984, 15 years after the pair debuted on the show.

"I don't think I'd know how else to write them, but as a loving couple."


There has been decades of speculation about the puppet pair, who have been roommates - albeit in separate beds - at 123 Sesame Street since the programme's pilot episode in 1969.

Bert and Ernie have become icons in the gay community over the years, and even inspired parts of the puppet Broadway musical Avenue Q.

The New Yorker ran a cover image of the pair watching television in each other's arms in July 2013, entitled "Moment of Joy".


This will be a big blow to The Gays who were hoping that Bert and Ernie became poster boys for the movement and a potential figure head for a winter recruitment drive.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-45566451


Kings of foam based straightness

[Marsh.]

They're not straight. They have no sexual orientation, they're puppets.

[LeatherTrumpet]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

They're not straight. They have no sexual orientation, they're puppets.

bit rude

[Smithy]

Imagine being upset about the sexual orientation of puppets

[arista]

Originally Posted by Smithy

Imagine being upset about the sexual orientation of puppets

Was on GMBHD itv today
Piers was taking the piss of it all.

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Smithy

Imagine being upset about the sexual orientation of puppets

This

[GoldHeart]

I never understood why people feel the need to make assumptions & jokes about children's characters , they're puppets for goodness sake .

Same goes for Teletubbies just because one of them carries a handbag , why do people attach gender stereotypes & orientation to children's characters ?? .

Rainbow was another show ,but that program gets laughed at now because of all the innuedos . There's a pink puppet that was camp and people wanted to give him a label as well .

[GoldHeart]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

This

It's not about being upset though , why do people care what characters are ? and why do they make assumptions . It is silly .

[Smithy]

Originally Posted by GoldHeart

It's not about being upset though , why do people care what characters are ? and why do they make assumptions . It is silly .

No some people were upset and the thought and had tantrums saying I’ll NEVER let my children watch the muppets again

Etc etc

[LeatherTrumpet]

Mr Benn lived alone and was always smartly dressed. He liked dressing up in secret in a small closet.

People talked.



Its none of their business

[JerseyWins]

Heard about them being gay yesterday. Now they're not again?

Either way, Sesame Street has these fans on strings

[GoldHeart]

Originally Posted by Smithy

No some people were upset and the thought and had tantrums saying I’ll NEVER let my children watch the muppets again

Etc etc

Well they're being silly & ignorant , it's children's characters ! . And when you're a kid you just see the puppets you don't see labels .

Same thing happened with Teletubbies & Rainbow . Jokes were made about the orientation of Tinky winky & George the pink hippo .
Who cares seriously .

[LeatherTrumpet]

Yes it is ridiculous

Everyone knew Bungle was a gay and George was asexual

[GoldHeart]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

Yes it is ridiculous

Everyone knew Bungle was a gay and George was asexual

They use to say Bungle's old costume looked scary with beady eyes ,but when he became more cuddly & friendly in appearance I don't think they ever joked about him . They seemed obsessed with George .

[hijaxers]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

They're not straight. They have no sexual orientation, they're puppets.

Exactly Muppet Puppets , stuffed and sewn crotches

[Rob!]

The king of gay puppets was Iver from the Hoobs

[Withano]

Im not buying it. Who knows what goes on when the cameras arent rolling.

[LeatherTrumpet]

Originally Posted by Withano

Im not buying it. Who knows what goes on when the cameras arent rolling.

[hijaxers]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

Mr Benn lived alone and was always smartly dressed. He liked dressing up in secret in a small closet.

People talked.



Its none of their business

LT you sayin Mr Benn wore secret stockings

[AnnieK]

Lol, the writers of kids tv shows had a field day back in the 70/80s littering the scripts with innuendos.....Rainbow was one of the worst.

Youtube video

[hijaxers]

Originally Posted by AnnieK

Lol, the writers of kids tv shows had a field day back in the 70/80s littering the scripts with innuendos.....Rainbow was one of the worst. The double entendres and innuendos were ridiculous

Yeah and now the PC police have taken over ! and did any of it have any detrimental effects on children ?

NO

[Withano]

Originally Posted by hijaxers

Yeah and now the PC police have taken over ! and did any of it have any detrimental effects on children ?

NO

Maybe if Zippy didnt tell us he was playing on Georges fiddle all night, millennials could all afford houses?

[AnnieK]

Originally Posted by Withano

Maybe if Zippy didnt tell us he was playing on Georges fiddle all night, millennials could all afford houses?

[Withano]

Originally Posted by AnnieK

Youtube video

It was actual filth though

[Maru]

People have some weird fantasies...