I loved what the Captain said, "The whole crew will enjoy it"
Petty Officer 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta, left, kisses her girlfriend of two years, Petty Officer 3rd Class Citlalic Snell at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek in Virginia Beach, Va. Gaeta's ship returned from 80 days at sea on Wednesday.
When Petty Officer 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta kissed Petty Officer 3rd Class Citlalic Snell today in Virginia Beach, a little bit of history was made.
As The Virginian-Pilot explains:
"It's a time-honored tradition at Navy homecomings — one lucky sailor is chosen to be first off the ship for the long-awaited kiss with a loved one. Today, for the first time [according to the Navy], the happily reunited couple was gay."
This is a case, The Associated Press says, of a Navy tradition catching up with repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy that previously barred openly gay men and women from serving in the U.S. military.
Gaeta, who had just arrived home on the USS Oak Hill amphibious landing ship, won the first kiss honor in a raffle. According to the AP:
"Sailors and their loved ones bought $1 raffle tickets for the opportunity. Gaeta said she bought $50 of tickets ['fewer than many people buy,' she told the Virginian-Pilot]. The Navy said the money would be used to host a Christmas party for the children of sailors."
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