Reagan opposed the 1978 Briggs Initiative, which he called "costly" and said had the potential to do "undue harm." The initiative, which inspired the founding of the Log Cabin Republicans, was aimed at banning gay and lesbian teachers from California's public schools. "Whatever else it is, homosexuality is not a contagious disease like the measles," Reagan is said to have written to a pro-Briggs group. "Prevailing scientific opinion is that an individual's sexuality is determined at a very early age and that a child's teachers do not really influence this."

Governor Schwarzenegger has spoken out against the effort to amend the state's Constitution to revoke same-sex couples' right to marry in the state. Schwarzenegger has vetoed two legislative efforts to affirm equal marriage rights during his time in office, but told the Log Cabin Republicans at their national convention in April that he would "always be there to fight against" such an effort to amend the Constitution. "I think that it would never happen in California," he said, "because I think that Californian people are much further along on that issue...I will always be there to fight against that..."

In addition to the Governor, California Republicans who have publicly spoken out against Proposition 8 include San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, Redondo Beach Mayor Mike Gin, former Congressman Tom Campbell, and Chairman of the Alameda County Republican Party Paul Cummings.

"Conservatives need to remember that Ronald Reagan was opposed to taking away people's rights," said Republicans Against 8 Campaign Manager Scott Schmidt. "Were he still with us today, Ronald Reagan would be in good company with another Republican Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger."

Video of Schwarzenegger's statement, followed by the new ad, are embedded below: