Sesame Street issued the statement after someone set up an online petition calling for Bert and Ernie to be married now that New York has legalised gay marriage.

Transcript – 

Panel 1:

Sam: (A person wearing a yellow-brown, collared shirt and a green-grey vest, who is sitting at a table, facing the viewer, but looking down at an open laptop. Eyebrows are pushed together slightly, and one is raised marginally, mouth is open, with downturned edges.) Oh no!

Sesame St. issued a statement this week saying that Bert & Ernie couldn’t possibly get married because they’re puppets, and puppets don’t have a sexuality.

 

Panel 2:

Sam: (A person who is facing the viewer, but looking to the side, with raised eyebrows and an open mouth, which has slightly downturned edges.) They single-handedly outed ALL puppets as asexual! Asexuality is a beautiful and wonderful thing, but it is up to the individual to identify as such.

Joe: Sam…

 

Panel 3:

Sam: (A person who is facing the viewer, but looking to the side. Eyebrows are raised and pushed together slightly, mouth is open. One arm is raised slightly at the shoulder and bent up at the elbow, index finger pointing straight up, the rest of the hand closed.) And I am quite certain that Miss Piggy had a sexuality. An interspecies sexuality, even.

Joe: SAM!

 

Panel 4:

Sam: (A person who is facing the viewer, but looking at Joe, with lowered eyebrows and an open mouth, which has very slightly downturned edges.) What? This just doesn’t seem right to me. Bert and Ernie should be able to speak for themselves.

Joe: (A person wearing a maroon undershirt, a blue cardigan, and a blue neckerchief, who is facing the viewer, with eyes squeezed shut. Eyebrows are lowered and mouth is closed and small, with slightly downturned edges. One arm is bent up at the elbow, hand flat against Joe’s face. There is a word written next to Joe’s head, which reads:) *sigh*