“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.’”

— “Sesame Street” resident Bert, in a comment on the children’s show’s official Twitter account that was posted June 11 but made news this week, reigniting rumors that Bert and his roommate Ernie are intended to be gay. (New York Daily News, Oct. 25)

“They are not gay, they are not straight, they are puppets. They don’t exist below the waist.”

— Sesame Workshop President and CEO Gary Knell in a 2007 statement regarding the rumors. (New York Daily News, Oct. 25)

“With a voice like this, you know I got to be a New Yorker. But I’m also an American. And to me that means justice and equality and liberty for everyone.”

— Actress Fran Drescher in a video for a new Human Rights Campaign ad series urging New Yorkers to support gay marriage. (On Top Magazine, Oct. 21)

“The fact that these things are such hot-button issues right now, socially and politically, I would much rather talk about that than talk about who I sleep with. I would love to be a voice in this maelstrom of chaos and obsessive celebrity infatuation that says, ‘Let’s talk about something that matters.’”

— Actor Zachary Quinto, known for his roles in NBC’s “Heroes” and “Star Trek,” on why he speaks out for gay marriage and other gay rights issues, but declines to discuss his own sexual orientation. (New York Times, Oct. 21)

“We apologized that the women were offended, and we affirmed that Cameron Village and York Properties, Inc. have no tolerance for discrimination of any kind and believe all people deserve the right to be treated fairly in their work, homes and daily lives.”

— George York, president of York Properties, which manages the Cameron Village shopping center in Raleigh, N.C., responding to an incident in which a mall security guard asked Caitlin Breedlove and her girlfriend to leave the mall after the couple shared a kiss and hug. (CNN, Oct. 17)

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