The Senate today "voted to advance legislation that would overturn the military ban on openly gay troops known as 'don't ask, don't tell.' " That is to say, the ban on openly gays serving in the military will, most likely, be lifted. Later on Saturday afternoon, the Senate will make the final vote.

New York Times reports:

By a bipartisan vote of 63 to 33, the Senate acted to cut off debate on a measure that would allow President Obama to declare an end to the Clinton-era policy, known as “don’t ask, don’t tell,” which allows gay members of the armed forces to serve only if they keep their sexual orientation a secret.

The "test vote," if you will, all but guarantees that 'don't ask, don't tell' to be a thing of the past.

Associated Press had this to say: