Gay Couple in Marine Homecoming Photo Speaks Out: VIDEO
Brandon Morgan and Dalan Wells, the couple in the Marine homecoming photo that went viral over the weekend speak to Honolulu news station KHON.
Says Brandon: "This is a homecoming picture. Gay, straight, it doesn't matter who you are. Love is love. We haven't fought for more rights or better rights than others. We fought for equal rights. And now we have them."
More on the KHON website. The couple says it was their first kiss!
There to meet him was his friend of four years, Windward Oahu artist Dalan Wells -- a friendship that had turned to a long-distance love during the deployment. This was their first kiss.
"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.
The arrival had come unexpectedly early. Wells made it to the base ahead of other invited friends.
"I’m so glad I got him a lei, I almost didn't have time,” Wells said. “I stopped at a Safeway, grabbed him just a carnation and pikake lei. One friend finally did make it, Dave Lewis and he's the one who took the photo there. He was able to get to the hangar just in time, because we were too happy to be able to take picture."
Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...
Reed B is right. BF of 4 years? Sorry, but that is his partner, not his BF. Especially after enduring 3 separations during deployments.
I'm sure the reporter was trying to be tactful and diplomatic, but time to call this one as it is. They are partners.
Welcome home, Marine. Oorah, Marine!!!!!!!
Posted by: LeeBessToad | Feb 28, 2012 5:33:29 PM
Very sweet photo. And good on the Marines. Who'da thunk they'd ever respond with "It's a typical homecoming photo." :-D
Posted by: scollingsworth | Feb 28, 2012 5:55:04 PM
Congrats to you both! This photo is so inspirational. If you had told me back when I was a teenager that the photo, let alone the widely positive response to it, would be possible 20 years down the road I would have thought "no way, not possible."
Posted by: leprechaunvict | Feb 28, 2012 6:15:30 PM
I don't know if they are "partners." A lot of people (including my BOYFRIEND) think it's too business-oriented a term and Down-Low in approach. So no matter how long we're together, my bf and I will be boyfriends until we can be freaking HUSBANDS.
Congrats to Brandon and Dalen. Call yourselves whatever you care to (and I hope most press parrots your own preference of label). Sorry if the publicity is a bit of a pain, but thanks for rolling with it and letting the photo of your wonderful moment improve the world a little bit.
Posted by: Zlick | Feb 28, 2012 6:24:48 PM
What a beautiful picture of these two young men who are very courageously serving our country kissing each other and openly showing their great love for one another!!!!! I love this superb and beautiful picture of them greeting each other with such love and not ashamed and not afraid so, so very much!!!!! I am so proud of this gay couple!!!!! A remarkable and fantastic picture!!!!!
Sherry Gordon in Iowa City, Iowa USA
Posted by: Sherry Gordon | Feb 28, 2012 6:42:28 PM
These two guys are gay American men at their best-that photo is a powerful image of love!
Posted by: jaragon | Feb 28, 2012 6:47:21 PM
It makes me happy!
Posted by: kodiak | Feb 28, 2012 7:27:55 PM
I am in love with this couple!
=)
Posted by: George F | Feb 28, 2012 8:45:09 PM
Tears of joy. What a treat, upon booting up computer and checking out the news.
Posted by: Manny Espinola | Feb 28, 2012 8:46:08 PM
What A Beautiful loving Couple..
Well I think it's Great.
Hang in there You Two xoxo
Posted by: Jeff Rabaut | Feb 28, 2012 10:17:38 PM
Many happy wishes and wonderful years together Dalan and Brandon.
To Dalan-from a fellow artist- good luck with your art- you have some beautiful pieces ;)
To Brandon- thanks for your years of service. We- as is the entire nation- are in your and your brothers and sisters debt for your service. You both deserve all the happiness in the world.
And good luck with the car hunting!
Posted by: scott | Feb 28, 2012 10:20:46 PM
I'm sorry, but the fact that this was just shown on local news (in Hawaii of all places) is also massively important. I mean, wow. Things really have gotten tremendously better.
And it's such a great photo!
Posted by: Robert | Feb 28, 2012 11:53:22 PM
Discretion? Oh hell no!
I was out there in '93 with a toddler and a tiny baby chanting:
"DON'T ASK DON'T TELL SAM NUNN GO TO HELL!"
It took 19 years of activism to get that photo. I am putting on my desktop.
Now go kiss some troops if you love them, closets are for clothes.
Posted by: Falcon | Feb 29, 2012 10:06:57 AM
COOT.
Posted by: Andalusian Dog | Feb 29, 2012 4:21:20 PM
@ Reed B: Yes, there's always room for cynicism. Did you read the text? It clearly indicates that they had realized the depth of their feelings for each other during the deployment. This may well have been their first kiss. Make room in your heart for the possibility of romance.
Posted by: Chuck Mielke | Feb 29, 2012 5:39:16 PM
I understand how you felt when you returned home from over seas. I would just like to say thank you to your friend, because of this photo it has made my life with my partner who is also in the Army a lot easier.
Posted by: PFC Scott Kelly | Mar 1, 2012 8:43:29 AM
BTW the Times Square photo was not of a loving couple at all. They were complete strangers. These two men had not kissed before this moment. They had endured a long distance relationship due to deployment. I would agree with all the uptight folks ONLY IF they were the only couple kissing.
Posted by: Daniel in MO (not the grammar cop) | Mar 1, 2012 8:04:09 PM
I did a REAL quick Google of Mil Home comings. Many pictures of tonsillectomies and by pg three the exact same picture of a heterosexual couple she was up in his arms with legs wrapped around. Wife and I went from the long tonsillectomy kiss and wet BDU's to hey babe quick kiss hug kids grab bags and off to what ever the kids activity was that day. Last deployment return I spent the night at the theater running scenery for my daughters dance school spring recital. These two get to that point well.
Posted by: Fred Dameron | Mar 2, 2012 1:56:18 PM
Absolutely amazing! Its not about gay or straight! Its about all the brave men and women who leave behind their loved ones to fight for our freedom..your freedom of ignorant speech about gays! Thank you to all the gay men and women who serve our country even though they don't have the freedom to love who they want to love! Most of you idiots that want to talk about this picture so negatively probably couldn't even survive 2 weeks in military boot camp, much less the Marines! Thank you to these two beautiful men who openly and bravely show their love!
Posted by: angela b | Mar 2, 2012 4:30:17 PM
Not that all Marines are bottoms or anything ...
Posted by: Old Dude | Mar 3, 2012 1:50:50 PM
Dale and Brandon mainly Brandon though made me feel better about "coming out" over Facebook. To people who didn't know I was a lesbian. I thank Brandon so much and welcome him home because in about 4 years I'm enlisting in the United States Marine Corp Semper Fi!!! God bless you both
Posted by: Heather | Mar 3, 2012 11:39:30 PM
Beautifully expressed article, i really enjoyed my stay on this plus wonderful website
Posted by: Ignition Lock | Mar 13, 2012 11:46:30 AM
This video opened up with a MARRIOTT ad - THEY ARE OWNED BY MORMONS WHO DAMN HOMOSEXUALS! SPREAD THE WORD!
Posted by: Glenn Rivera | Mar 20, 2012 12:34:44 PM
"Less than a year ago, when the [DADT] policy was still in effect, the display of such a photo would have been frowned upon"
UNDERSTATEMENT. OF. THE. CENTURY. Actually, it's just a blatantly false statement by omission.
Posted by: NVAgBoi | Mar 20, 2012 4:02:02 PM