Is Bert from Sesame Street gay? (statements, songs & events on show suggest...)

The Telegraph (U.K.) ^ | October 26, 2010 | Murray Wardrop

[Stoat]

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But Bert has now ignited fresh debate about his sexuality after using a slang word for gay to describe himself.

In a message posted on Twitter about the premiere of the recent A-Team film remake, the mono-browed Muppet said on his official page: "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.'"

The remark meant nothing to most readers, but sparked intrigue in certain gay circles, where "mo" is shorthand for "homosexual".

Writing on the gay blog AfterElton.com, Ed Kennedy noted that the tweet was made during a week when many US cities were hosting their annual Gay Pride celebrations.

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the Los Angeles Times noted: “In its own subtle, perhaps unintentional way, the show's latest season feels more LGBT-friendly than ever.”

It suggested that recent guest appearances by lesbian comedian Wanda Sykes, the gay actor Neil Patrick Harris, who played the "shoe fairy", and Will.i.am, the frontman of the Black Eyed Peas, who sang What I Am, a gay anthem, indicate the direction the American show has been moving in.

Sesame Street also recently featured an appearance from pop star Katy Perry, who is herself famous for being a gay icon following her debut single, "I Kissed A Girl".

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[Stoat]

Bert (left) with his friend Ernie

 

Although The Telegraph and possibly many other 'news' outlets will dismiss all of this with a breezy, carefree wink and a nod, as well as the obligatory suggestion that any objection to Sesame Street's current trajectory is the domain of neanderthals and swampdwellers at minimum, I confess that I'm not quite so eager to just "let it go, it's only a TV show".

Hundreds of millions of children the world over watch this program as it is broadcast in many languages every week.  It reaches children at their most vulnerable ages, luring them in with funny, fuzzy characters and a promise of good times.  Busy parents use it as a 'babysitter', unfortunately, to occupy otherwise fidgety children while a household is managed.  It is viewed by most, I would reckon, as a 'safe' show to allow young and impressionable children to watch.

I'm wondering how many parents realize that there 'may' be a hidden agenda at work?

I never watched the show as a child as it came along when I was in my teens, as I recall, so I can't claim to have a solid working knowledge of the show other than a basic familiarity with the more popular characters, as they have become part of the larger culture.

If I were to be Blessed to have children, this article would make me want to shield them from this show. I am increasingly angered by the media's stealth-indoctrination techniques, particularly when it comes to children's programming.

[Stoat]

I had always wondered why one character lived in a trash can.....

[Berlin_Freeper]

I make playlists of acceptable Sesame Street content on YouTube, along with lots of children cartoons and stuff, on YouTube and watch that with my daughter.

[Berlin_Freeper]

on Youtube.

[Stoat]

That sounds like an excellent plan. It’s unfortunate, however, that you are forced to do all that when one would think that the producers of the show ‘should’ be thinking in terms of ‘how can we provide wholesome and educational content’ instead of ‘how far can we push the cultural envelope before anybody complains?’

I suppose that all television needs to be filtered in such a way nowadays in order to provide wholesome content. Such a shame.

[tlb]

Bert isn't gay. If you google images of "evil bert pam anderson", don't be too shocked by the evidence. Bert is just evil. So it's ok if still watch the show.

 

Three images of proof. THREE! ONE, TWO, THREE! Ah ha ha!

[Stoat]

LMAO ;-) Bert is obviously a multifaceted, and genuinely evil character!

[Smokin' Joe]

I'm wondering how many parents realize that there 'may' be a hidden agenda at work?

While I can understand your concern (after all, to young children these characters are 'people'), I have to question the motivation of those who would attempt to assign a 'sexual orientation' to a puppet in a children's show.

I sure miss the days when kid's puppets were just puppets and sex was for adults.

[Vanders9]

I agree with Smokin Joe. If you “look” hard enough, you can read something into anything. I’d be very surprised if there is any ulterior motive to this comment by the puppet. The Homosexual lobby is just looking to get reactions.

[ViLaLuz]

All of Sesame Street is gay. It’s so over the top P.C. it is sickening to watch.

[kevkrom]

While I can understand your concern (after all, to young children these characters are 'people'), I have to question the motivation of those who would attempt to assign a 'sexual orientation' to a puppet in a children's show.

Agreed. Especially if you have to dig down so deep as the original article does to use obscure slang terms that 99.999% of the audience would never know. "Mo" = gay? Really? I've heard of "Mo" being shorthand for Maurice or Mohamed, but never as slang for gay.

[Only1choice____Freedom]

Bert is evil:

http://www.bertisevil.tv/

Bert has been implicated in Mr. Hooper’s death.

[FreedomGuru]

“I had always wondered why one character lived in a trash can.....”

Incredible that long ago Sesame Street could predict life in and Obamanation.

[Oztrich Boy]

"Mo" = gay? Really? I've heard of "Mo" being shorthand for Maurice or Mohamed, but never as slang for gay.

Now it becomes clear. Cher (gay icon much?) films music video "If I could turn back time" on the "Mighty Mo", BB-63.

[stainlessbanner]

Not many conservatives on the SS guest list

[a fool in paradise]

When the lavender mafia detects homosexual undertones with their “gaydar”, it’s all the rage for the media to carry the meme.

But when some conservative then discusses what was already brought to the media by homosexuals (like the notion that Tinky Winky or whatever the purple teletubby was called), THEN it is all guffaws at the “homophobic” conservative (Christian?) who “thinks” that he sees gay undertones where they are not. And that’s just for REPEATING a claim made by snickering homosexuals.

Don’t take the bait.

Ask these grown men why they are watching programming geared for those who have not entered primary school yet, especially given their contempt for “breeders”.

[Abin Sur]

The musical "Avenue Q" (a takeoff of Sesame Street) has its own take on this question, in the song "If You Were Gay"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL7kcFdGGPM