Tv3's Political Editor Ursula Halligan has opened up about about being gay ahead of the upcoming marriage referendum.  In a candid opinion piece for The Irish Times, Ursula explains how the upcoming referendum has encouraged her to be honest about her own sexuality in the hope that she can inspire people to vote yes. She writes: "It will say to gay people that they belong, that it’s safe to surface and live fully human, loving lives." Ursula recalls her own experience growing up as a gay woman in Ireland, with heartfelt reflections and extracts from her 1977 diary. Quoting her 17-year-old self, she reveals: "These past few months must have been the darkest and gloomiest I have ever experienced in my entire life. "There have been times when I have even thought about death, of escaping from this world, of sleeping untouched by no-one forever." Ursula explains how growing up in 1970s Ireland, where homosexuality was seen as "an evil persuasion", caused her to feel "revolted at the thought that I was in love with a member of my own sex." She speaks of the pain of not receiving the same approval as her heterosexual friends and siblings: "At every turn society assumes and confirms heterosexuality as the norm. "This culminates in marriage when the happy couple is showered with an outpouring of overwhelming social approval. For me, there was no first kiss; no engagement party; no wedding." The 54-year-old journalist has only recently come out to her family and describes a sense of relief as well as remorse that she didn't open up sooner. "I have only told my brothers and sisters in the last few days… it was hard to get the words out but I have gotten the most beautiful and warm responses from my family," she explains. "Looking back I should have been braver. I don’t know why it took me so long…some people are still going through hell. I’m doing this for the 17 year old’s out there." Imploring the nation to vote yes in the upcoming referendum, Ursula writes: "If Ireland votes Yes, it will be about much more than marriage. It will end institutional homophobia." She adds: "Any of them could be your son, daughter, brother, sister, mother, father or best friend. Set them free. Allow them live full lives." The TV3 journalist has received overwhelming support online for the piece...  

#UrsulaHalligan I bow down 2 ur article today in @IrishTimes beautifully honest & unashamedly sincere.#respect @tv3NewsIreland #YesEquality

— No Limbs No Limits (@NolimbsNolimits) May 15, 2015

Moving,brave & beautiful piece by #UrsulaHalligan on #MarRef.It's guts like this which shows exactly what's at stake. http://t.co/Weai5xXVzz — Mairead Healy (@MissyMairead) May 15, 2015

Hopefully the loneliness #ursulahalligan writes about in the Irish times will be less keenly felt by gay young people in the future #MarRef

— Lorraine whitty (@lorrainetwhitty) May 15, 2015

Wish #UrsulaHalligan knew she'd be the top trender on Twitter for all the right reasons when she was 17. — Louise Dockery (@LouiseDockery) May 15, 2015

Eloquent and beautiful piece from @TV3Ireland 's #UrsulaHalligan - read and vote #yes to equality for all! http://t.co/rprl32wX9S

— Declan O'Brien (@DoBrien_85) May 15, 2015