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| New Yorker cover marking Doma decision suffers fierce backlash | New Yorker cover marking Doma decision suffers fierce backlash |
| (3 months later) | |
| Bert and Ernie may be one of the nation's most prominent same-sex cohabitees, but a New Yorker cover that played on the recurring meme that their relationship may be something less than platonic appeared to have backfired in some quarters on Friday. | Bert and Ernie may be one of the nation's most prominent same-sex cohabitees, but a New Yorker cover that played on the recurring meme that their relationship may be something less than platonic appeared to have backfired in some quarters on Friday. |
| The Sesame Street puppets appear on the front of the next issue, nestled on a sofa in a darkened room, apparently watching the US supreme court justices on television, on the week that they delivered their far-reaching gay rights rulings. | The Sesame Street puppets appear on the front of the next issue, nestled on a sofa in a darkened room, apparently watching the US supreme court justices on television, on the week that they delivered their far-reaching gay rights rulings. |
| Initially, the cover was met with waves of adulation. But more considered voices staged a later backlash. | Initially, the cover was met with waves of adulation. But more considered voices staged a later backlash. |
| Both supporters and opponents of same-sex marriage shared their distaste, calling the illustration: "infantilizing," "demeaning," a "cheap gag," and "crass and reductive." | Both supporters and opponents of same-sex marriage shared their distaste, calling the illustration: "infantilizing," "demeaning," a "cheap gag," and "crass and reductive." |
| This is not the first time Bert and Ernie have become embroiled in a controversy over their sexuality – or lack thereof. In August 2011, in response to an online petition calling for the characters to wed on Sesame Street, the show's creators Sesame Workshop pointed out they are best friends and do not have any sexual orientation because they are puppets. | This is not the first time Bert and Ernie have become embroiled in a controversy over their sexuality – or lack thereof. In August 2011, in response to an online petition calling for the characters to wed on Sesame Street, the show's creators Sesame Workshop pointed out they are best friends and do not have any sexual orientation because they are puppets. |
| While conservative publications and their readers responded with the predictable vitriol – the National Review published the cover on its own under the headline "Innocence. Lost." – gay rights supporters were also disappointed by the cover. | While conservative publications and their readers responded with the predictable vitriol – the National Review published the cover on its own under the headline "Innocence. Lost." – gay rights supporters were also disappointed by the cover. |
| Flavorwire deputy editor Taylor Coates wrote an impassioned criticism of the cover. | Flavorwire deputy editor Taylor Coates wrote an impassioned criticism of the cover. |
| First of all, the notion that Bert and Ernie are gay lovers is ridiculous, and the propagation of the narrative is a childish statement that says more about the sexually obsessed and slightly homophobic tendencies of our culture. Homophobic? Absolutely: it's a continuation of the idea that sexuality affects personality as much as it speaks of our obsession with outing the private lives of public individuals – in this case fictional characters that most of us grew up with. | First of all, the notion that Bert and Ernie are gay lovers is ridiculous, and the propagation of the narrative is a childish statement that says more about the sexually obsessed and slightly homophobic tendencies of our culture. Homophobic? Absolutely: it's a continuation of the idea that sexuality affects personality as much as it speaks of our obsession with outing the private lives of public individuals – in this case fictional characters that most of us grew up with. |
| Coates later said on Twitter that the cover was successful because it created a conversation, which is "ultimately a good thing." | Coates later said on Twitter that the cover was successful because it created a conversation, which is "ultimately a good thing." |
| Slate's June Thomas shared her dislike for the cover in an article headlined: "This is a terrible way to commemorate a major civil rights victory." | Slate's June Thomas shared her dislike for the cover in an article headlined: "This is a terrible way to commemorate a major civil rights victory." |
| You see, straight America, there's a difference between same-sex friends and gay lovers. Does America contain households in which lovers pass themselves off as best pals? No doubt. And as prejudice against gays and lesbians fades, more of these ambiguously gay couples will declare themselves. But that doesn't mean that every pair of cohabiting friends is madly making out on a nightly basis. | You see, straight America, there's a difference between same-sex friends and gay lovers. Does America contain households in which lovers pass themselves off as best pals? No doubt. And as prejudice against gays and lesbians fades, more of these ambiguously gay couples will declare themselves. But that doesn't mean that every pair of cohabiting friends is madly making out on a nightly basis. |
| Writer Bobby Finger created a one-page screenplay of Bert and Ernie's reaction to the cover. | Writer Bobby Finger created a one-page screenplay of Bert and Ernie's reaction to the cover. |
| Here's a one-page screenplay I wrote about Bert and Ernie reacting to The Cover. http://t.co/BEYakibV2C | Here's a one-page screenplay I wrote about Bert and Ernie reacting to The Cover. http://t.co/BEYakibV2C |
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