A touching picture of a homecoming US Marine locked in a passionate embrace with his boyfriend has gone viral.
Uploaded on Facebook, the snap has been given the “thumbs up” more than 14,000 and attracted over 3,000 comments.
The Marine, since identified as Brandon Morgan, is wearing a garland of flowers after touching down in Hawaii following an Afghanistan tour, Digital Journal reported.
Responses to the photo included: “Welcome home and thank you for your service!” and “This is an awesome picture! Love knows no gender, race, creed or sexual preference.”
According to the International Business Times, Morgan’s boyfriend is named Dalan Wells.
Morgan took to his wall to thank supporters, and also addressed the less encouraging comments.
He wrote: “To everyone who has responded in a positive way. My partner and I want to say thank you. Dalan, the giant in the photo, can't believe how many shares and likes we have gotten on this.
“We didn't do this to get famous, or something like that, we did this cause after 3 deployments and four years knowing each other, we finally told each other how we felt.
“As for the haters, let 'em hate. We are the happiest we have ever been.”
Morgan recorded a Christmas message dedicated to "all my friends and family", but made no mention of Wells, the Daily Mail reported.
A ban on openly gay men and women serving in the US Army was lifted in September last year.
Check out the photo:
Check out some of our favorite same-sex kisses below: