The true end of DADT

I know, I said I wasn’t going to post today, but this was so fantastic that I had to share. It’s been one year since the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell — the US law that forbade gay Americans to serve their country in any branch of the military, unless they lied about who they were and concealed every possible detail of their private lives — but the true end of it was yesterday. This is the best Solstice gift!

When a Navy ship returns to its home port, a long tradition holds that one lucky sailor gets to be the first off the ship, and the first to greet family and loved ones. Yesterday in Virginia Beach, Virginia, that sailor was Petty Officer 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta, who bought fifty $1 lottery tickets in an effort to win the first kiss.

Her girlfriend, Petty Officer 3rd Class Citlalic Snell, was the recipient of that kiss. Judging by the rings on their left hands, they’re also engaged.

A photographer from the local paper was there to snap a photo, which was then picked up by the Associated Press. This will surely be the iconic image of the end of DADT. (And, what a kiss!)

Even better, the lucky ladies speak for themselves in an interview with The Virginian-Pilot. Congratulations, Ms. Gaeta and Ms. Snell — and thank you for your service.

Via Slog.