Ronald Reagan spoke out thirty years ago when fundamental freedoms for gay and lesbian Californians were under attack at the ballot box.

At the end of a meeting with gay and lesbian leaders in his Los Angeles office in 1978, Ronald Reagan smiled and said, “Don’t think we can allow something like that to happen here in California.” He was denouncing the Briggs Initiative, Proposition 6, which he opposed and would have permitted the firing of gay teachers in California.

Reagan, who by then had served two terms as governor, was gearing up to run for President. His opposition is credited with the defeat of the measure by more than 1,000,000 votes.