Sesame Street's Bert, Ernie 'celebrate gay marriage ruling'

AN AMERICAN journal has marked the US Supreme Court's historic ruling on gay marriage with an illustration of Sesame Street's Bert and Ernie in a tender moment. 

New Yorker cover

A PRESTIGIOUS American journal has marked the US Supreme Court's historic ruling on gay marriage with an illustration of Sesame Street's Bert and Ernie sharing a tender moment.

The headline reads 'Bert and Ernie's Moment Of Joy" and features the two characters snuggled up together, with Ernie's head on Bert's shoulder and Bert's arm protectively around his companion. 

It is an eye-catching way for journal to illustrate the Supreme Court's historic duel ruling this week in favour of same-sex marriage.

The Court ruled that married same-sex couples were entitled to federal government benefits and that same-sex marriage should be legal in the country's largest state, California. 

Sesame Street has long denied that Bert and Ernie are in a sexual relationship. A spokesperson said in 2011 that the two "do not have a sexual orientation."

The New Yorker said that the cover artist, Jack Hunter, originally submitted the image, unsolicited, to the photo-sharing website Tumblr.  Gawker revealed that the picture was originally submitted in May 2012 when US President Barack Obama became the first US president to come out in support of gay marriage.  The picture originally had a grainy pic of Mr Obama on the tv.

The cover has drawn criticism. Slate.com said not every pair of co-habitating friends are necessarily a couple.

"It’s a cute image. Everyone loves Bert and Ernie. But it’s is a terrible way to commemorate a major civil-rights victory for gay and lesbian couples," the website said.