Bert and Ernie: The Gay Marriage Controversy?!

As New York State allow gay marriage, and the movement continues to pick up steam across the country, an online group is petitioning Sesame Street to have two of its most famous puppet characters join in gay matrimony.

A Facebook page called "Bert and Ernie Get Married" begs the folks at "Sesame Street" to out Bert and Ernie as a gay couple then have them get married.

Only one problem - "Sesame Street" denies Bert and Ernie are gay, or for that matter have any sexuality at all. Because they're, you know, puppets.

"Bert and Ernie are best friends. They were created to teach preschoolers that people can be good friends with those who are very different from themselves," said representatives from Sesame Workshop.

"Even though they are identified as male characters and possess many human traits and characteristics…they remain puppets, and do not have a sexual orientation," said Sesame spokespeople.

Of course, as soon as the petition started spreading online due to stories on Perez Hilton and ABC News, the raging hardcore political arguments began. There are now several competing petitions like "Bert and Ernie Should NOT Get Married" (and the ever so popular "Bert and Ernie are not gay, they're just experimenting") and pundits on both sides of the political coins have already decided to put Bert and Ernie in the middle of the heated debate over gay marriage.

At a time when deficit talks have completely assured deep budget cuts in any publicly supported programs, including public television, do we really need to be having a political debate about the content of "Sesame Street"?  Conservatives have long argued that support for public television is an unnecessary and wasteful use of tax dollars, so will tying PBS' highest profile show to one of the hottest political issues you could ever discuss automatically put a target on its back?

How long until a hard-right politician like Michele Bachmann busts out a rant against Bert's rubber ducky on the campaign trail?

Read the intro to the Bert and Ernie petition below and let us know what you think in the comments.

"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. Only that they allow Bert & Ernie to marry or even add a transgender character to the show. 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. Please visit our Facebook  page."