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‘New Yorker’ Outs Bert and Ernie

Features characters hugging after DOMA ruling.

The New Yorker has taken the bold step of outing Bert and Ernie in the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling to strike down DOMA. Everyone’s favorite Sesame Street muppets are featured on next week’s cover embracing as they watch SCOTUS in action on TV. “It’s amazing to witness how attitudes on gay rights have evolved in my lifetime,” said Jack Hunter, the artist behind the cover, titled “Moment of Joy,” who originally submitted his image to a Tumblr page before The New Yorker scooped it up. “This is great for our kids, a moment we can all celebrate,” Hunter added. The image implies that Bert and Ernie are indeed a couple, as people have long speculated; two years ago, an online petition calling for the two to get married went viral. At the time, Sesame Street responded with a statement that Bert and Ernie are “best friends” and have “no sexual orientation.” Lawyer up, Remnick.