2 women share 1st kiss at US Navy ship's return

[SpankMe]

A Navy tradition caught up with the repeal of the U.S. military's "don't ask, don't tell" rule on Wednesday when two women sailors became the first to share the coveted "first kiss" on the dock after one of them returned from 80 days at sea.

Both women, ages 22 and 23 respectively, are fire controlmen in the Navy. They met at training school and have been dating for two years.

Navy officials said it was the first time on record that a same-sex couple was chosen to kiss first upon a ship's return. Sailors and their loved ones bought $1 raffle tickets for the opportunity. Gaeta said she bought $50 of tickets.

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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45753034/ns/us_news-life/
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Oh, yeah!!!!!! Republican thuggery notwithstanding, some positive changes do happen. I'm impressed that the military had no hesitation at all to conduct the drawing and release the picture.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

1. Could you please add a short (no more than 4-paragraphs) excerpt?

Lots of DUers won't click on a blind link and it's too great of a story to miss.

Thanks!

[Enrique]

2. Rick Perry won't like this

[brooklynite]

7. I understand it's just a "temporary aberration"...

[xchrom]

3. Awesome. nt

[warrior1]

4. better with a picture

[unkachuck]

11. "better with a picture"

....I don't know why, but I love to see women kiss....

[onehandle]

12. Amen. nt

[waddirum]

16. I know why

Cause its hot!

[Change Happens]

19. Got in a big fight with my wife, I can feel my marriage is falling apart!!!

Because of the gays, because of this image

[Denninmi]

5. Looks like progress towards a hate-free world to me.

Love it. Great photo. Congrats to them. I hope this becomes one of the iconic images of our age, like the famous photo of the sailor kissing the girl in Manhattan on VJ Day in 1945.

[obamanut2012]

10. This is exactly what I thought of when I saw this photo

EXACTLY.

[JoePhilly]

6. After seeing your OP ... I did this ... I hope you approve.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10172217

[krucial]

8. Bright spot

This is is at least one bright spot towards progress.
I can Imagine how many heads of the Christian Rightwing, overdosed on God and religion,exploding all over America.Ha ha ha

[obamanut2012]

9. Wonderful, and very heartening

How the Services have really integrated same sex couples in so many traditions: first kiss, Marine Balls, etc. Now, time to allow married housing and benefits!

What two beautiful and courageous young women.

Props to the crowd for cheering them.

[Little Tich]

13. Haters gonna hate, but really, all you need is love...

[octothorpe]

14. IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD!!!!

Stories like this always tempts me to see what they say at sites like freerepublic. It's so messed up how bent out of shape they're getting over this. It's sick how quickly they put down military personal just 'cause they don't like their sexual orientation (or whatever) They're so shallow that it's sickening.

[MineralMan]

15. What the rightwing sites will say is so predictable that

it's not really worth a click. Sucks to be them when something good like this happens.

The photo was on the front page of my morning paper, too. I'm sure the comments over at that paper's site are going to be memorable.

As someone said above, this is a landmark photo, and will stand as a symbol for the end of DADT. Hoorah, as they say!

[BreweryYardRat]

17. D'aww.

They're so cute!

[Marrah_G]

18. Nice !!!!

[FromNY]

20. This old Navy vet approves

Not sure when it became a "tradition" though....when my ship pulled into port there was no "first kiss" hoopla - just those not on duty rushing to get go ashore as quickly as possible.

[LadyInAZ]

21. Awesome!

woot!. way to go!