Our Year in Review – April ‘11-‘12
The loathsome “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” military policy was finally abolished in September, nine months after President Obama signed legislation that would allow openly gay personnel to serve in the armed forces. Some gay and lesbian service members couldn’t wait to say ‘sayonara’ to DADT’s draconian restrictions. In December, Fire Controlman 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta was the first to kiss her fiancée, Fire Controlman 3rd Class Citlalic Snell, in a U.S. Navy homecoming ceremony in Virginia Beach, VA. In Navy tradition, one sailor is chosen by raffle to be the first off the ship to kiss a loved one—and Gaeta’s and Snell’s was the first same-sex smooch in military history.
A kiss is still a kiss—but what a kiss it was! When a female naval officer smooched her fiancee during a military homecoming ritual, it indelibly marked the true and final end to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” The victories of the past year seemed to come fast and furious: New York finally legalizing same-sex marriage along with Maryland and Washington State; Chaz Bono busting a move as Dancing with the Stars’ first transgender contestant; the snowballing Occupy Wall Street movement demanding justice for the hardworking 99 percent. Even great tragedy, and the still-raw memories of America’s worst terrorist attack, failed to slow the rekindling of our optimism. (And if you want more proof, see GO’s landmark Tenth Anniversary issue this September!)
BELLY UP
The largest Italian cruise ship ever built at a cost of 450 million Euros, the Costa Concordia was on a routine Mediterranean cruise off the coast of Tuscany on the night of January 13. The captain allegedly deviated from course near the island of Giglio, where the ship struck an underwater reef.The vessel’s momentum caused the rock to tear a gash in the hull, flooding the engine room and power supply. The crew delayed the call to abandon ship despite orders from the Coast Guard as the ship listed dangerously to one side. Passengers fended for themselves, maneuvering into lifeboats and rowing to the nearby shore. Of the 4,252 passengers and crew on board, thirty people died in the disaster; two are still missing, and dozens were hurt.
