Now that the Defense of Marriage Act is out of the way, we have time to focus on real issues: puppet sex.
A portion of the Internet lost its mind this morning over next week's New Yorker cover (pictured above). Featuring Sesame Street puppets Bert and Ernie snuggling and watching the Supreme Court on television, it's a clear nod to the court's decisions on DOMA and Proposition 8. Fine. Cute, even.
Except it launched a full-fledged debate over whether Bert and Ernie are actually gay (they're not), how absurd it is to discuss same-sex marriage with muppets rather than people (it is), and what it all means. Here's what I think: The fact that we're all still talking about the sexual orientations of early childhood TV show characters just means we have a lot more work to do on LGBT equality and ought to step away from Twitter. Why can't two straight guys cuddle in the dark and watch non-televised daytime judicial proceedings without somebody make it a thing?
As for news meriting real discussion....
- Openly gay Pennsylvania lawmaker Brian Sims was silenced by his colleagues on Thursday while trying to speak about the Supreme Court's reversal of the Defense of Marriage Act. The reason? A Republican representative told WHYY-FM he wanted to shut Sims down for making an "open rebellion against God's law." Representatives couldn't confirm rumors that Bert and Ernie were watching the legislative session together from a desert yurt.
- Fourty-four years after the Stonewall riots, BuzzFeed explored the cultural importance the iconic Stonewall Inn still holds for the LGBT community.
- The Department of Health and Human Services made it clear Friday that same-sex partners of patients in nursing homes were guaranteed "full and equal visitation privileges," the Washington Blade reports.
- Australia's new prime minister has endorsed legalizing same-sex marriage.
- In Maryland, the reversal of DOMA means that legally married same-sex couples are now eligible for federal benefits. But what happens if a couple moves to a state where they can't get married?
- Out soccer player Robbie Rogers wrote a letter to his 14-year-old self for ESPN The Magazine, and it's full of fantastic advice to LGBT teens.
- As Pride month comes to a close, Queerty rounded up several major corporations' celebrations of LGBT pride and equality. My personal favorite is this beautifully understated Grey Poupon ad.
What else have you been reading and talking about this week?