Sesame Street is once again celebrating Pride Month. The iconic children’s show posted a message Sunday on social media to mark the occasion. “On our street, everyone is welcome,” the post read, accompanied by an image of puppets holding hands in rainbow colors.
The show has been publicly celebrating LGBT pride every June since at least 2019. This year’s message echoed past themes of inclusion and love. “Together, let’s build a world where every person and family feels loved and respected for who they are,” the post added.
In 2023, Sesame Street featured actress Ariana DeBose, who identifies as queer, in a special Pride Month segment with Elmo. “Elmo loves you!” the red puppet cheered. Last year, the show also ran a segment about a girl named Mia and her two dads making a family recipe together.
Dave and Frank, Mia’s dads, first appeared on Sesame Street in 2021. They were the show’s first gay couple, debuting during an episode titled “Family Day.” That episode also aired during Pride Month.
PBS has been the home of Sesame Street since 1969, but the show’s future on public television is uncertain. The Trump administration is moving to cut funding for PBS and NPR. A recent executive order has sparked legal action from both outlets.
Democrats in Congress have blasted the funding cut. They say it puts educational shows like Sesame Street and Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood at risk. Still, the long-running series may survive the cuts thanks to streaming.
Netflix has already stepped in with a new deal to stream the show. While HBO’s contract with Sesame Street expired last year, it continues to stream past episodes. With 55 seasons under its belt, Sesame Street isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.