By 250 votes to 175, the US House of Representatives voted this Wednesday (15) to overturn the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law, which prohibits openly gay men from serving in the Armed Forces.
The law, in force for 17 years, was being challenged by Democrats, with support from President Barack Obama. It is now up to the Senate to decide whether the measure will be definitively banned across the country.
In the Senate, Democrats say they have the 60 votes needed to overturn the law. The pressure for this to happen this year is great, because the Republicans will be the majority in 2011 due to the parliamentary elections that took place in early November.
According to data from LGBT organizations, around 13 gay service members were discharged from the Armed Forces under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law.
A survey carried out by the Pentagon this year with 400 military personnel indicated that, despite being controversial, the majority (70%) believe that overturning the law would have mixed or positive effects.
