A spontaneous kiss between a Marine just returned from Afghanistan and his male partner in Hawaii has become famous since a photo of the embrace emerged on Facebook during the weekend, drawing thousands of overwhelmingly supportive comments in a relatively new post-don’t ask, don’t tell military.
Sgt. Brandon Morgan, 25, with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363, said he spontaneously jumped into the arms of his partner, Dalan Wells, when he returned from six months in Afghanistan on Wednesday.
"I knew I wanted to kiss my partner when I came back, but the way it was done was just, OK, just off the top of my head right then and there," Morgan said by phone.
Friend Dave Lewis caught the moment in a photo with a huge American flag in the background in a hangar at the Kaneohe Bay Marine Corps base, Morgan said.
Posted Saturday on the "Gay Marines" Facebook page, the photo as of Monday evening had received more than 32,000 "Likes," 7,000 comments and 5,500 "Shares" with the tally increasing steadily.
Morgan’s take on all the attention? "Honestly, it’s been overwhelming. It really has," said Morgan, who is from Oakdale, Calif., and has been a Marine since 2007.
He also is thankful that the comments have been mostly positive.
"I’ve been told that I’m an inspiration to others and that this kiss is breaking barriers around the world," he said.
Morgan said on his own Facebook page that he had received so many emails, messages and "friend" requests that he could barely keep up.
"I wanted to say thank you for all the comments and inspirational messages I have received," Morgan said on the page. "I will try and email everyone I can, but as the list of friends keeps growing, it’s getting harder."
The photograph taken of Morgan and Wells has been compared to the iconic image of an American sailor kissing a nurse in Times Square on Victory over Japan Day in 1945.
Facebook responses to the photo at the "Gay Marines" page have been mostly supportive.
"Thank you for your service. Welcome home," Tim Chung said.
"You are so brave for doing that, especially on military property," Abe Johnson commented. "In that setting, wow what a terrific day!"
Rachel Goldberg said, "I’m just another straight married voter who loves this photo! Thank you for your service, and your partner’s sacrifices. And welcome home (to an increasingly welcoming country!!)."
Andrew Mayo said, "Thank you for fighting for our country, even when everyone who is in it doesn’t support you."
Jeffry Priela, a Navy hospital corpsman and the Hawaii chapter leader of OutServe, a nationwide association of actively serving lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender military personnel, said he was "amazed" by the positive response to the photo.
"It goes to show how much we’ve advanced since Sept. 20," Priela said in reference to the date the U.S. military repealed its "don’t ask, don’t tell" policy prohibiting openly gay individuals from serving in uniform. "The issue of equality is moving forward."
As evidence, on Dec. 21 in Virginia, Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta, returning on the amphibious dock landing ship USS Oak Hill, received the traditional "first kiss" with her same-sex partner, Petty Officer 3rd Class Citlalic Snell.
Morgan maintains and manages specialized support equipment with HMH-363, the "Lucky Red Lions."
He was part of an advance unit of about 48 Marines to return Wednesday from southern Afghanistan. The remainder of the squadron is expected to return next month, officials said.
Morgan said he met Wells, who works for Marine Corps Community Services and is not a Marine, at a program for single sailors and Marines.
The pair did garner some detractors at the "Gay Marines" page.
One commenter said he was "disgusted," and another said the couple are "atheists" and that the photo "makes me want to wretch up my lunch."
Morgan said he realizes that the Defense Department’s policy on gays in the military means continued adjustment to it.
"I, by no means, wanted to make anyone feel uncomfortable," he said. "I do understand there are some people who feel uncomfortable just because of either their faith or the way they were brought up, and I do apologize for that, but this wasn’t for them. … It was for me, so their personal feelings about it, well, they are personal feelings and I can’t help that."
