Sesame Street pair Bert and Ernie 'will not get married'

The producers of Sesame Street say characters Bert and Ernie will not get married in a same-sex ceremony in spite of an online request calling for the merger.

Fans say the best friends should get married as a way to cheer acceptance of gay people.

About 7,000 have signed the petition, with more than 3,000 joining a Bert and Ernie Get Married Facebook page.

A report from the show's producers said: "They remain puppets and do not have a sexual familiarization."

But they approved that both are "male characters and have several human peculiarity and characteristics".

The proved bachelors have resided jointly for 40 years and sleep in the same bedroom, albeit in single beds.

"Bert and Ernie are the excellent friends," the statement from Sesame Workshop added. "They were formed to teach preschoolers that people can be best friends with those who are very dissimilar from themselves.

The online petition describes: "We are not asking that Sesame Street do something vulgar orill-mannered," adding, "It can be done in an attractive way. Let us teach broadmindedness of those that are different."

Sesame Street was made by TV producer Joan Ganz Cooney and psychologist Lloyd Morrisett in 1969 and obtained a massive following, led by the formations of master puppeteer Jim Henson.

Beloved characters include Elmo, the Cookie Monster and Big Bird.

It is still viewed in more than 140 countries and averages 120 million watchers globally.