So Change.org is featuring a petition by a user named Lair Scott that is asking the children’s television show Sesame Street to out Bert and Ernie as a gay couple and have them get married. While I think it might be a good idea to introduce a gay character on the show, I think this is going a bit too far.

Here’s what the petition 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. 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.

It’s important to separate their friendship from marriage because it’s just more fodder for the radical, religious conservatives who will use it as evidence that gays are confused about male to male relationships.

Am I not seeing the bigger picture? What do you think?