Ireland's vote on same-sex marriage happens to take place on the birthday of Harvey Milk, one of the first openly gay representatives to be elected to political office in the US.
He won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977, running on a platform that fought for gay rights.
His political message was captured in his iconic 'hope speech.'
Before his assassination in 1978 Milk recorded a message to be played if he was murdered, it begins:
"I fully realise that a person who stands for what I stand for, an activist, a gay activist, becomes a target or the potential target for somebody who is insecure, terrified, afraid, or very disturbed themselves.
Knowing that I could be assassinated at any moment, any time, I feel it's important that some people know my thoughts. And so the following are my thoughts, my wishes, and my desires, whatever, and I'd like to pass them on and have them played for the appropriate people."
He urges all gay men and women to be open about their sexuality, saying "only that way will we start to achieve our rights" - before ending again on the theme of hope.
