In May of 1975, then-Los Angeles Police Chief Edward Davis was invited to participate in the LA Pride parade — an annual celebration of the LGBT community which first took place in 1970 — by the event’s organisers, Christopher Street West. Davis responded with the following letter.

LA Pride continues to this day. 2013’s three day event begins on June 7th.

Transcript follows.

(Source: Paul Forte, via Virginia C. McGuire; Image above: LA Pride 2012, via Boston.com)

Transcript

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT May 23, 1975 Ms. Sharon D. Cornelison, President

Christopher Street West Association

P.O. Box 3949

Hollywood, California 90028 Dear Ms. Cornelison: As you no doubt expected, I am declining your invitation to participate in the celebration of “GAY PRIDE WEEK.” While I support your organization’s constitutional right to express your feelings on the subject of homosexuality, I am obviously not in sympathy with your views on the subject. I would much rather celebrate “GAY CONVERSION WEEK” which I will gladly sponsor when the medical practitioners in this country find a way to convert gays to heterosexuals. Very truly yours, (Signed) E. M. DAVIS

Chief of Police