Some 1,200 people have signed a petition on Change.org calling for PBS and the makers of children's show “Sesame Street” to let perennial roommates Bert and Ernie marry. The petition, created by Lair Scott, was posted two days ago. A Facebook page created for the cause has 400 fans.

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.

Speculation over the pair's sexual orientation has been popular for years. Bert added fuel to the fire last year when he sent out a tweet on Sesame Street's official Twitter account:

“Ever notice how similar my hair is to Mr. T’s? The only difference is mine is a little more ‘mo,’ a little less ‘hawk.’”

Unfortunately, Bert and Ernie aren't gay, according to the show's CEO.

“They are not gay, they are not straight, they are puppets,” Sesame Street Workshop president and CEO Gary Knell said in 2007. “They don’t exist below the waist.”

It's not like a gay puppet wedding is without precedent. Rod and Ricky from the Broadway hit “Avenue Q” tied the knot earlier this year in New York.

Click here to read the petition.

h/t SF Weekly

Top photo: Sesame Street's Bert and Ernie (by John E. Barrett / via MSIChicago.org)