Free Republic

Bert and Ernie Bert and Ernie, Sesame Street's favorite longtime roommates, are not getting married -- because they're not gay, or straight, for that matter. Earlier this month, inspired by New York state's recent legalization of gay marriage, an online petition argued the case that the popular Muppet characters wed one another.But Sesame Workshop nixed that idea in a statement posted on the official Sesame Street Facebook page on Thursday:"Bert and Ernie are best friends. They were created to teach preschoolers that people can be good friends with those who are very different from themselves. Even though they are identified...

The United Way of Miami-Dade on Tuesday discontinued its funding for boy scouting programs, saying the local Boy Scouts of America affiliate failed to abide by an agreement requiring it to help gay youths cope with their sexuality. In a private meeting, the United Way's board of directors voted unanimously to withhold its yearly funding grant of $480,000 for ''traditional scouting programs,'' according to the agency's spokeswoman, Tamara Klingler. The grant serves primarily to pay the salaries of scout leaders in low-income areas including Little Havana, Liberty City, Homestead and Hialeah. About 4,200 kids, most between ages 6 and 17,...