Is 'Sesame Street' becoming more gay-friendly?

After a string of gay-friendly guest stars and a controversial muppet tweet, pundits are wondering whether the iconic TV series has an agenda

Bert recently tweeted that his hair was "a little more 'mo,'" which some have read as slang for homosexual.
(Image credit: YouTube)

"Sesame Street" has long been about accepting oneself and those different from you, but recent developments have pundits wondering if the show is making a particular effort to appeal to gay parents. The developments in question: A number of gay and gay-friendly guest stars and skits this season, and a recent, much ballyhooed tweet from Bert (of Bert and Ernie fame) that some interpreted as a coming out declaration. A show representative dismisses the notion that "Sesame Street" producers have made any conscious changes, saying "we've always reached out to a variety of actors and athletes and celebrities to appear on the show." What's all the fuss about?

It certainly seems more gay-friendly: "In its own subtle, perhaps unintentional way, the show's latest season feels more LGBT-friendly than ever," says Melissa Maerz in the Los Angeles Times, from guests like lesbian comedian Wanda Sykes (and "gay icon" Katy Perry) to the recent parody of the gay-tinged HBO series "True Blood." Gay parents are "feeling the love" from "Sesame Street."

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