History was made on a Virginia Beach pier on Wednesday when two women sailors, one just home from 80 days at sea, became what was believed to be the first same-sex couple to share the Navy's traditional first kiss.

At Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, where a crowd had gathered to welcome home loved ones, Petty Officer 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta, 23, stepped off amphibious dock landing ship USS Oak Hill and planted a kiss on the lips of her partner, Petty Officer 3rd Class Citlalic Snell, Navy spokeswoman Ensign Sylvia Landis confirmed.

Asked if they were the first same-sex couple to share the tradition, Landis said the Navy doesn't really keep track of stuff like that ... but it's believed to be the first one.

The kiss came after the U.S. military's don't ask, don't tell rule regarding homosexuals was repealed earlier this year.

Landis said that to the Navy, (it was) really just a normal homecoming.

It's just news to some people because for them (gays and lesbians), they don't have to hide it anymore, I guess. It's just a first; that's why it's significant to some people.

Gaeta, of Los Angeles, told local newspaper The Virginian-Pilot she had bought $50 worth of $1 tickets in a raffle run by the Family Readiness Group.

Traditionally, when a family comes home there's a raffle ... that each sailor or family member buys tickets to, Landis explained. They draw names for winners of first hugs and first kisses.

She said money raised in the raffle would be used to throw a Christmas party for children of sailors.

Snell, of Placerville, California, told the newspaper the kiss would open a lot of doors not just for our relationship, but for all the other gay and lesbian relationships that are in the military.

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