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Naval Officer Puts 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' In The Past With Historic Lesbian Kiss

SAN PEDRO (CBS) — A same sex California couple set out Wednesday to prove the U.S. Military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy is a thing of the past.

A petty officer from Placerville made U.S. Navy history by kissing her female partner from San Pedro during the traditional docking "First Kiss" ceremony.

The historic kiss took place in Virginia Beach when the U.S.S. Oak Hill arrived home from a deployment at sea.

Officer Marissa Gaeta won a raffle, granting her the honor of being first off the ship, and therefore first to get a welcome home kiss.

"It's nice to be able to be myself," said Gaeta. "It's been a long time coming."

"We did have to hide it a lot in the beginning," said Gaeta's partner Citlalic Snell. "We can finally be honest about who we are and our relationship."

The captain and crew of the ship told reporters they thought the kiss was no big deal.

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