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New Yorker cover shows 'Bert and Ernie's 'Moment of Joy''

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NEW YORK, June 28 (UPI) -- The New Yorker marked the Supreme Court's decisions on same-sex marriage and benefits issues with a cover featuring "Sesame Street" Muppets Bert and Ernie.

The cover for July 8 and 15 features the children's show characters pictured from behind in partial silhouette with Ernie resting his head on Bert's shoulder while Bert has his arm draped around Ernie, the New York Post reported Friday.

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The characters are watching a TV that shows the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled this week for same-sex couples to receive the same federal benefits as heterosexual couples and cleared the way for same-sex marriage in California by striking down a challenge to a ruling against the same-sex marriage-banning Proposition 8.

The cover, created by Jack Hunter, is titled "Bert and Ernie's 'Moment of Joy.'"

"It's amazing to witness how attitudes on gay rights have evolved in my lifetime," Hunter said. "This is great for our kids, a moment we can all celebrate."

"Sesame Street" responded to long-circulating rumors of a homosexual relationship between Ernie and Bert in 2011 with a statement saying the characters are "best friends."

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"They were created to teach preschoolers that people can be good friends with those who are very different from themselves," the statement read. "Even though they are identified as male characters and possess many human traits and characteristics ... they remain puppets, and do not have a sexual orientation."

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