Bert And Ernie Cuddle On Couch, Celebrate Supreme Court DOMA Ruling On New Yorker Cover

It looks like “Sesame Street’s” favorite pair of roomies have joined in the celebration surrounding the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent rulings on the federal Defense of Marriage Act and California Proposition 8, at least if the cover of the New Yorker magazine is to be believed.

The cover -- titled “Moment of Joy” -- shows the two “Sesame Street” characters embracing lovingly on a couch as they view a television set showing members of the Supreme Court. This obviously leads one to immediately think the two are quietly reveling in the SCOTUS decisions on gay marriage.

The two “Sesame Street” residents have faced rumors in the past regarding their relationship. According to CNN, the questions grew after a tweet from the Sesame Street Twitter account appeared to hint at the friends’ sexuality:

After a petition was begun in 2011 urging the two to get married, the Sesame Workshop, the show’s production company took to its Facebook page to comment on the relationship, saying the two were no more that just really good friends. “Even though they are identified as male characters and possess many human traits and characteristics (as most Sesame Street Muppets do), they remain puppets, and do not have a sexual orientation,” it said.

The image for the New Yorker was created by Jack Hunter, an artist who originally sent the image to Tumblr. Hunter said the picture was a way to celebrate the SCOTUS decision, but some, such as June Thomas at Slate, are skeptical about the decision to use Bert and Ernie for the image -- mainly because the two Muppets are said to be only “best friends” by the Sesame Workshop.

What do you think? Was it a cute idea or a misguided way to commemorate the SCOTUS decisions on gay marriage?