US Navy select first gay sailor to share the ‘ceremonial’ kiss with his boyfriend after seven months at sea.

As tradition goes, to mark the return of submarine warships the US Navy selects one sailor to share a ceremonial kiss with their significant other when they dock. For the first time ever, the chosen sailor happened to be gay – making this the first time the in US Navy history that a male same-sex couple had been chosen for the homecoming honour.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Thomas Sawicki and Shawn Brier were photographed locking lips at Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego, after The USS San Francisco (SSN 711) submarine warship arrived back in the US after seven months deployed in the Western Pacific.

“Everyone was cheering for me when it got announced (I won the lottery) over email,” Sawicki said. “Everyone was very supportive, excited, really happy.”

Speaking about the time away from his partner, Shawn Brier admitted that it wasn’t easy to be apart for so long.

“It was a long seven months so it was tough,” Brier said. “But we were able to keep in touch so that helped.”

Watch the historic moment below: