A federal judge ordered the US military to stop enforcing its ban on openly gay troops immediately, bringing the 17-year “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy closer than it has ever been to being abolished.

A SENATE bill to repeal the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy was headed for defeat last night, a major setback for gay groups which saw the vote as their last chance this year to overturn the 17-year-old ban.

Senate Republicans today blocked legislation that would have repealed the law banning gays from serving openly in the US military.