U.S.

This Photo Was Made Possible by the End of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

The Associated Press's Brian Clark has snapped a photo that really tells the story of this year's "Don't Ask Don't Tell" repeal.

By Eric Randall
Saved Stories
This article is from the archive of our partner .

The Associated Press's Brian Clark has snapped a photo that really tells the story of this year's "Don't Ask Don't Tell" repeal. Apparently, the Navy has a tradition of selecting one person to be "first off the ship" to kiss a waiting loved one. And when the USS Oak Hill landed in Virginia Beach on Wednesday, Petty Officer 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta got the honor of kissing her girlfriend, Petty Officer 3rd Class Citlalic Snell. This is a photo that just simply could not have been taken before this year's repeal of the law, which required gay and lesbian service members to remain closeted. The kiss brings to mind another iconic image of a sailor playing a little celebratory tonsil hockey. You know the one …

Update: The Virginian Pilot has a video interview with the two women talking about the lead up to the moment and its significance:

This article is from the archive of our partner The Wire.