Dibble Introduces Anti-Bullying Bill in State Senate

State Sen. Scott Dibble (DFL-Minneapolis) re-introduced an anti-bullying bill Monday, despite little hope it will pass the Republican-dominated legislature.

A compromise version passed with bipartisan support in 2009—the Senate approved it by 46-8, while the House passed it 95-39—only to be struck down by Gov. Tim Pawlenty's veto. While a Democrat now sits in the governor's office, both houses of the state legislature were captured by Republicans in the 2010 election. 

The issue of bullying attracted much attention following a spate of suicides by gay teens across the country, including in Minnesota. As Dibble looked for co-authors for the bill this session, he was turned down by three separate Republican colleagues, all of whom formerly supported the measure.

"Partisan positions have hardened since we had the breakout of bipartisanship," Dibble said. "The reason for that, of course, is that right-wing religious extremists swung into action after we succeeded in passing the bill."

Minnesota Family Council President Tom Prichard said his organization, which has opposed the legislation, has spoken to some legislators about the issue.

"Our view is clearly that we oppose all bullying for any and every reason, whether being teased for being gay and lesbian or anything else," Prichard said. "Schools should address all bullying rather than pulling out certain forms of bullying, saying we're going to give special focus on these forms of bullying."

The Minnesota Family Council has been heavily involved in the nationwide debate about bullying—the group also actively objects to homosexuality. The council's legislative guide supports removing the phrase "sexual orientation" from the state's Human Rights Act because "homosexual behavior is harmful and should not be protected, and thus promoted, by the state."

Dibble's bill would require school boards to add the act of bullying to their written policies prohibiting sexual or racial discrimination. It also adds national origin, sex, marital status, disability, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation and gender identity, among others, to the stated anti-discrimination policy.

According to the 2010 Minnesota Student Survey, almost one in five local students routinely feel not accepted at school. In that data, an average of 21 percent of high school students in Hennepin County reported having been teased or excluded by others within a 30-day time period. Nearly one-third of those same students also reported that they themselves, had teased or excluded another student within that same period. 

“This past summer, we have had a rash of teen sucides in our state, particularly in Anoka," said Sen. Terri Bonoff (DFL-Minnetonka), a co-author of the bill. "What that says to me is that whatever we are doing is not working to make our young people feel a culture of acceptance."

Despite the dreary outlook, Dibble said he'll continue to champion the bill.

"I am not sanguine, but nevertheless, we will continue to raise this issue," Dibble said. "It's an important issue for us to continue to talk about, just in and of itself, to be sending these messages to young people that somebody in office cares about them."