Bert and Ernie to marry?

There is supposedly an online petition signed by 900 people urging Children's Television Workshop (CTW) to marry Bert and Ernie on Sesame Street. I don't know about anyone else, but this is an outrage to me. I have nothing against LGBT people and I am far from homophobic, but to even propose to mess with a childhood institution like this is ridiculous.

According to the person who started the petition Lair Scott, marrying Bert and Ernie on Sesame Street would show LGBT kids "that they are BEAUTIFUL" and let bullies know that "homophobia is NOT okay."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/10/bert-ernie-gay-marriage_n_923147.html?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl6%7Csec1_lnk3%7C85161

I stopped watching Sesame Street on a regular basis when I hit my pre-teen years. These unfortunate suicides of Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual & Transgender (LGBT) kids have been mainly teenagers and college students. How many of those kids were actually watching Sesame Street? In all my years of watching Sesame Street (and I am still watching because of my son, ofcourse) I have never EVER thought Bert and Ernie had any veiled attraction for each other. Ernie was just very annoying usually whenever Bert was trying to sleep.

This is going way too far. Gay marriage has already been approved in New York, now they want to marry same sex puppets? Please. Enough is enough. Just over 10 years ago images of gay and lesbian intimacy on national television was taboo. Ellen Degeneres came out the closet on her sitcom and lifted the "shame" which is fine. Now there are so many network shows, soap operas and movies that are showing open displays of LGBT affection (including the season finale of VH1 Single Ladies this past Monday night), not to mention Gay Pride parades and the LOGO network that solely shows gay and lesbian programming, LGBT kids should already feel beautiful.

Marrying two puppets who stood for good natured camraderie between BEST FRIENDS? What kind of message does that send to kids who are not LGBT? Kids who grew up on these characters knowing they were just best friends who showed the meaning of friendship?

Jim Henson has got to be rolling over in the grave. CTW please DO NOT cave to any pressure to do this.

Just my thoughts, ladies and gentlemen...