In July 2011, California Governor Jerry Brown signed SB 48, The FAIR Education Act, into law. The bill requires public schools to include the political, economic and social contributions of persons with disabilities and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in educational textbooks and social studies curricula. It also prohibits schools from sponsoring negative activities or teaching students in an adverse way about characteristics such as sexual orientation and religion.
The FAIR Education Act was welcomed by many as a step towards greater inclusivity in California’s history. However, it was met with fierce opposition from the state Republican Party and social conservative organizations. In October 2011, the group “Stop SB 48” attempted to collect enough signatures to place the issue on a referendum in June 2012, but ultimately failed.
In November 2011, Stop SB 48 announced their intention to pursue a ballot initiative to repeal the controversial Senate Bill 48. However, their efforts have since stalled. Now, Steve Knight (R-Palmdale) has presented a new solution in the California Assembly, proposing a bill that would allow school districts to opt-out of SB 48. Knight is the youngest son of William “Pete” Knight, who in 2000 successfully campaigned for Proposition 22, the “California Defense of Marriage Act”, which amended the California Family Code to state that “only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.” Knight expressed his concern that “sexual orientation, which has nothing to do with historical contribution, will be taught and promoted in the classroom.” He argued that this would complicate the education process of students, who already have low ranking averages in national exams. His proposed bill would allow school districts to choose not to adopt the textbooks required by SB 48.
Steve Knight, son of the late Pete Knight, has followed in his father’s footsteps, from Palmdale City Council in 2005 to the California State Assembly in 2008. According to the Los Angeles Times, he has taken out papers to run for the 21st District Senate seat, the same seat his father held from 1996.
Steve’s political platform has been to fan the flames of hatred and fear against the LGBT community, and to support a ban on same-sex marriage. This is in stark contrast to his brother David, who married his partner of 10 years, Joseph Lazzaro, at San Francisco’s City Hall in 2004.
Pete Knight was an Air Force pilot who served in the Vietnam War, and set a speed record in the rocket-powered X-15-2A, flying 4,520 miles an hour. His accomplishments will likely be overshadowed by his attempts to deny gay men and lesbians the freedom to marry. Steve’s attempt to allow school districts to opt-out of giving LGBT folk and persons with disabilities “fair, accurate, inclusive and respectful” treatment, will also expose his role in trying to stop California from being a leader in civil and human rights in the 21st century.
The Knight family’s fight for LGBT equality has been played out in the public sphere, with Steve’s political career a stark contrast to that of his brother. As California textbooks are rewritten for the 21st century, Steve’s legacy will be one of attempting to deny civil and human rights to the LGBT community.
