# Scott Dibble (politician) *American politician serving in the Minnesota Senate since 2003* David Scott Dibble (born August 27, 1965) is a [[Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party]] (DFL) politician who has held a seat in the [[Minnesota Senate]] since 2003.[^1] His current district, District 61, covers parts of [[Minneapolis]] in Hennepin County.[^1] Before joining the Senate he spent one term in the [[Minnesota House of Representatives]], from 2001 to 2003.[^1][^5] His Wikipedia biography describes him as the first openly gay man to win election to the [[Minnesota Legislature]] after running without having previously held a seat there.[^1] In the 2013 session he was among the legislators who proposed the measure legalizing [[Same-sex marriage in Minnesota|same-sex marriage in Minnesota]]. The bill passed, and same-sex marriage took effect on August 1, 2013.[^2] ## Early life and education Dibble was born in New York City to a parent serving in the United States Air Force. He relocated frequently in childhood before settling in [[Minnesota]], where he finished high school at [[Apple Valley High School (Minnesota)|Apple Valley High School]].[^3] He studied at both the [[University of St. Thomas (Minnesota)|University of St. Thomas]] in Saint Paul and the [[University of Minnesota]]. In 2002 he finished a fellowship at the university's [[Humphrey School of Public Affairs]].[^3] ## Early activism and career Dibble's political involvement began in the mid-1980s with civil rights work for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities, including advocacy for people with HIV/AIDS.[^4] He was an activist and organizer with It's Time, Minnesota, a statewide LGBT rights organization that his Wikipedia biography credits with helping pass the 1993 [[Minnesota Human Rights Act]].[^4] That work led him into organizing on social and economic justice issues, chiefly neighborhood livability, transportation, housing, energy and the environment.[^4] He held an information technology support job at Investors Diversified Services, now [[Ameriprise Financial]], and afterward worked as a community organizer. Between 1994 and 2000 he served as an aide to [[Minneapolis City Council]] Member Doré Mead.[^4] ## Minnesota House of Representatives Voters elected Dibble to the House in 2000 for District 60B, and he served a single term.[^5] His committee assignments there were Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs, Transportation Policy, and Ways and Means.[^5] ## Minnesota Senate Dibble won his Senate seat in 2002. He entered the race after the incumbent, [[Myron Orfield]], announced he would retire.[^6] He was returned to the Senate in the elections of 2006, 2010, 2012, 2016, 2020 and 2022.[^6] Since 2023 he has chaired the Transportation Finance and Policy Committee. He is also a member of three other committees: Capital Investment; Energy, Utilities, and Climate; and Taxes.[^6] His earlier chairmanships were the Housing Division of the Jobs, Energy and Community Development Committee (2003–2007), the Transit Subdivision of the Transportation Budget and Policy Division (2007–2011), and the Transportation and Public Safety Committee (2013–2017).[^6] ### Political positions #### Same-sex marriage Dibble had a leadership role in the campaign against the constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in Minnesota.[^2] In the 2013 legislative session, he, Representative [[Karen Clark (American politician)|Karen Clark]] and several other legislators put forward a measure to legalize same-sex marriage. Once the bill passed, same-sex marriage became legal on August 1, 2013.[^2] #### The environment Wikipedia lists Dibble as chief author or a lead negotiator on energy efficiency standards and the implementation of a renewable energy standard. The same list includes a carbon dioxide reduction mandate and mercury emission reduction requirements for coal-fired energy, which the article calls the nation's most stringent.[^7] It also credits him with work on what it describes as the country's first legislation on hybrid plug-in electric cars. It further names programs supporting green building construction and helping local governments build more energy-efficient facilities.[^7] He is described as having helped author, and having served on, the Green Jobs Task Force. That body was charged with developing a comprehensive economic development policy for Minnesota's participation in the green economy.[^7] ## Personal life Dibble is gay and married Richard Leyva in California before Proposition 8 passed.[^8] In November 2019 he disclosed that a man with whom he had had an extramarital relationship had allegedly tried to blackmail him using revenge porn.[^8] He runs and has finished several marathons.[^8] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - Scott Dibble, DFL member of the Minnesota Senate, currently representing District 61.[^1] ### Where - District 61 includes parts of Minneapolis in Hennepin County.[^1] ### When - Elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2000 (District 60B); served 2001–2003.[^1][^5] - Elected to the Minnesota Senate in 2002; reelected in 2006, 2010, 2012, 2016, 2020 and 2022.[^6] - Chair of the Senate Transportation Finance and Policy Committee since 2023.[^6] - Same-sex marriage became legal in Minnesota on August 1, 2013.[^2] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Scott Dibble (politician)*, English Wikipedia (revision 1377307951, retrieved 2026-10-26), lead section — birth date, DFL membership, Senate service since 2003, District 61, House service 2001–2003, first openly gay man elected to the Legislature without prior seat. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Dibble_(politician)> [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Scott Dibble (politician)*, English Wikipedia (revision 1377307951, retrieved 2026-10-26), section "Same-sex marriage" — campaign against the constitutional amendment, 2013 legislation with Karen Clark, legal effect August 1, 2013. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Dibble_(politician)> [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Scott Dibble (politician)*, English Wikipedia (revision 1377307951, retrieved 2026-10-26), section "Early life and education" — birthplace, Air Force family, Apple Valley High School, St. Thomas and University of Minnesota, 2002 Humphrey School fellowship. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Dibble_(politician)> [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *Scott Dibble (politician)*, English Wikipedia (revision 1377307951, retrieved 2026-10-26), section "Early activism and career" — mid-1980s activism, It's Time, Minnesota, 1993 Minnesota Human Rights Act, IDS employment, aide to Doré Mead 1994–2000. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Dibble_(politician)> [^5]: Wikipedia contributors, *Scott Dibble (politician)*, English Wikipedia (revision 1377307951, retrieved 2026-10-26), section "Minnesota House of Representatives" — 2000 election, District 60B, one term, House committee assignments. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Dibble_(politician)> [^6]: Wikipedia contributors, *Scott Dibble (politician)*, English Wikipedia (revision 1377307951, retrieved 2026-10-26), section "Minnesota Senate" — 2002 election after Myron Orfield's retirement, reelections, committee chairmanships and memberships. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Dibble_(politician)> [^7]: Wikipedia contributors, *Scott Dibble (politician)*, English Wikipedia (revision 1377307951, retrieved 2026-10-26), section "The environment" — energy and emissions legislation attributed to Dibble; Green Jobs Task Force. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Dibble_(politician)> [^8]: Wikipedia contributors, *Scott Dibble (politician)*, English Wikipedia (revision 1377307951, retrieved 2026-10-26), section "Personal life" — marriage to Richard Leyva, November 2019 blackmail announcement, marathons. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Dibble_(politician)>