BY ROB SALERNO - While it wasn't a perfect year for gay rights in the US -- President Barack Obama remains against same-sex marriage, Congress killed progress on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and battles at the state and local levels continue to rage on -- one of the big victories this year was the end of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy that barred gay and lesbian soldiers from serving openly in the US military.

Here's a nice way to celebrate that victory.

Yesterday, the USS Oak Hill returned to port after three months in Central America, and for the first time in history, an openly lesbian sailor won the lottery to land the first kiss with her partner upon returning to shore. 

According to the Virginian Pilot, sailors on the Oak Hill bought $1 raffle tickets for the right to be the first to kiss their partners. Petty Officer 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta bought 50 and won. When the ship docked, her girlfriend of two years, Petty Officer 3rd Class Citlalic Snell, was waiting.

Check out this interview the couple did with the Pilot after their kiss: