U.S. Naval Petty Officers, Share First Same-Sex Kiss At Ship's Return

[Mayhem]

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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 pier after one of them returned from 80 days at sea.

For the historical significance of the kiss, there was little to differentiate it from countless others when a Navy ship pulls into its home port following a deployment. Neither the Navy nor the couple tried to draw attention to what was happening and many onlookers waiting for their loved ones to come off the ship were busy talking among themselves.

David Bauer, the commanding officer of the USS Oak Hill, said that Gaeta and Snell's kiss would largely be a non-event and the crew's reaction upon learning who was selected to have the first kiss was positive.

"It's going to happen and the crew's going to enjoy it. We're going to move on and it won't overshadow the great things that this crew has accomplished over the past three months," Bauer said.

It's a great day in history my friends. I hope this article gets mass e-mailed to every Neo-Con, paleo-Repub, knuckle dragging, bible-thumping, stick-their-pathetic-noses-into-other-peoples-bedrooms, Tea Bagging candidate for anything, anywhere. Long Live Freedom!!!