GAY MARINE PHOTO GOES VIRAL

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

Sgt. Brandon Morgan returned from a 6 month deployment in Afghanistan today. He arrived in Kaneohe, home of Marine Corps Base Hawaii and was met with a kiss and a carnation lei, a typical homecoming scene, except the photo has gone viral due to the fact that the person who met Sgt. Morgan and shared that passionate kiss was his friend turned boyfriend, Dalan Wells. The couple went from friendship to love during their correspondence over the past 6 months.

"We couldn't talk, I can barely talk now, his hands went numb, my legs were shaking, our first kiss after just knowing how we felt about each other,” Morgan said.

Another friend arrived just in time to take the now infamous photo, which Morgan posted on his facebook page. A friend of Wells asked to post it on a page called “Gay Marines” and from there it went viral. Thousands have “liked” and shared the photo and over 5,000 have commented. Most of the comments are supportive and positive, Morgan told reporters, but there have been harsh negative comments as well. Morgan was upset when someone called his mother and criticized her for not raising him “right”. He added that she was the greatest mom ever and that she was happy for him.

Less than a year ago, when the “Don’t ask , don’t tell” policy was still in place, Morgan would have faced severe consequences. Today, the climate had changed significantly. There were no stares, inappropriate comments or condemnations from Morgan’s peers and superiors.
“All my superiors, my staff sergeants, my gunnery sergeants, my lieutenants, my officers, my captains, they're all very ecstatic and very happy that I had somebody to come home to,” Morgan said. “Again, gay or straight, does not matter.”

A spokesperson for Marine Corps Base Hawaii said in a statement: "It's your typical homecoming photo."

Personally, I say "Welcome home Sgt, Morgan and thank you for your service!"

'Nuff said!