his school district anoka hennepin has been hard-hit. the question is -- what role does school climate really play. >> we need an answer to this question. >> reporter: this is the only minnesota school district we could find with a curriculum policy that bars teachers from taking a position on homosexuality and says such matters are best addressed outside of school. it's become known as the neutrality policy and some teachers say it's part of the problem. >> because there's so much we can't do and say to help create a more accepting and affirming and welcoming environment that would eliminate some of that bullying in the first place. >> it is a censorship policy. it is censorship. there's nothing neutral about taking the side of the oppressor. >> it seems like you're saying this is contributing to leading these kids to the brink. >> it is contributing to creating a hostile, toxic environment. >> reporter: but superintendent dennis carlson says the district has a comprehensive bullying policy and has piloted a bullying tip line. he says n

a couple of months ago, and i met a teacher from the anoka-hennepin school district and he had sevens classes, seven students, seven kids that committed suicide or attempted to commit suicide, just in his class alone. that's indicative of a serious problem. i know you referenced michele bachmann coming into this, i think her silence is troublesome. it implies an indifference or disdain that i find very worrisome. >> joel, in the national, statistical picture, the big focus of it, we have studies indicating 85% of lgbt students surveyed nationally say they have been bullied at school. this is, by no means, individualized to particular school districts. >> absolutely. again, it is a nationwide problem, but there are cultures created within these school districts about how to deal with it, and you find in areas either in states or school districts where the -- they have policies prohibiting this type of activity of bullying and of prohibiting any kind of discussion about homosexuality. the suicide rates amongst lgbt teens are much lower. that's something proved out in a variety of place

we're about 30 minutes outside of minneapolis in anoka-hennepin.s is the biggest school district in the entire state, but the reason we're here is because it has become a battleground over homosexuality in the classroom. the district has a controversial curriculum policy that says staff must remain neutral on matters of sexual orientation. it's ignited a culture war, one that's playing out in school board meetings. >> the homosexual lifestyle is a social controversial issue that should be addressed in the home and not the schools. >> these children are human beings. we're allowing these kids to be treated as second class citizens. >> reporter: allegations of bullying have brought unwanted media attention, and cnn has learned a federal investigation to this quiet suburban community. >> a student threw me up against a wall, lockers, and screamed "fag" at me. >> reporter: mike thurston, an eighth grader at anoka middle school isn't gay, but he's the president of his school's day/straight alliance. >> a student, for whatever reason, came up to me durin

the anoka-hennepin school district has a policy for teachers to remain neutral on the matter of gapesve for years successfully lobbied against lgbt issues being discussed in schools, and while bachmann has yet to comment on this matter, as a minnesota state senator, she was very vocal in a 2006 anti-bullying bill. >> there's always been bullies, always have been, always will be. i just don't know how we're ever going to get to a point of zero tolerance, and what will it mean? will it get to the point where we are completely stifling free speech and expression, will it mean that -- what form of behavior will there be? will we be expecting boys to be girls? what is it exactly we're asking for? i don't mean that as a sexist comment, but there are differences between boys and girls when they are on the playground and the classroom. >> joining me now, gay rights activist, joel burns, joel, thank you very much for returning to the show. >> happy to be here again. >> joel, what happens when schools, like a school district like this whereç teachers are forbidden by law from even discussing t

we're about 30 minutes outside of minneapolis in anoka, the biggest school district in the entire stateason we're here is because it has become a battleground over homosexuality in the classroom. the district has a controversial curriculum policy that says staff must remain neutral on matters of sexual orientation. it has ignited a culture war. one that's playing out in school board meetings. >> the homosexual lifestyle is a social controversial issue that should be addressed in the home and not the school. >> these children are human beings. >> we're allowing these kids to be treated as second class citizens. >> reporter: allegations of bullying have brought unwanted media attention, and cnn has learned a federal investigation to this quiet suburban community. >> a student threw me up against a wall, lockers, and screamed "fag" at me. >> reporter: mike thurston, an eighth-grader at anoka middle school isn't gay but he is the president of the school's gay-straight alliance. >> a student, for whatever reason, came up to me during social studies and said, so how big was it in your mouth l

we're about 30 minutes outside of minneapolis in anoka. is the biggest school district in the entire state, but the reason we're here is because it has become a battleground over homosexuality in the classroom. this is the only minnesota school district we could find with a curriculum policy that bars teachers from taking a position on homosexuality and says such matters are best addressed outside of school. it's become known as the neutrality policy, and some teachers say it's part of the problem. >> there's so much we can't do and say to help create a more accepting and affirming and welcoming environment that would eliminate some of that bullying in the first place. >> reporter: in a school newsletter and in a voice mail to staff, superintendent dennis carlson denies any connection between bullying and the suicides. >> based on all. information we've been able to gather, none of the suicides were connected to incidents of bullying or harassment. >> reporter: carlson says the district has a comprehensive bullying policy and that is pilot

we're about 30 minutes outside of minneapolis in anoka hen pin. this is the biggest school district in the entire state. but the reason we're here is because it has become a battle ground over homosexuality in the classroom. this is the only minnesota school district we could find with a curriculum policy that bars teachers from taking a position on homosexuality. and says such matters are best addressed outside of school. it's become known as the neutrality policy, and some teachers say it's part of the problem. >> there's so much we can't do and say to help create a more accepting and affirming and welcoming environment that would eliminate some of that bullying in the first place. >> reporter: in a school newsletter, and in a voice mail to staff, superintendent dennis carlson denies any connection between bullying and the suicides. >> based on all of the information we've been able to gather, none of the suicides were connected to incidents of bullying or harassment". >> reporter: carlson says the district has a comprehensive bullying policy an