Faith in America ended its first stop on its five-city tour of its “Call to Courage” campaign on Tuesday in Ames.

The evening was promptly started with a welcome from Jimmy Creech, executive director of Faith in America. Faith in America, known for it acceptance of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, has been publicizing its beliefs in hopes to conquer religious bigotry. Creech spoke of the mission of Faith in America in educating communities of the positive role religion plays in the life of people across the world. He also spoke of the biblical scriptures that led to discrimination and negativity toward minorities, women and people with differing sexual orientation.

Creech then began with a brief history of bigotry in the United States from past to present. Creech, who holds a degree in biblical studies, said the Bible has been used on numerous occasions in this country to confirm what is right and wrong. He gave such examples as consented slavery, which is a common practice in the Bible and was heavily practiced in America for years, and also a woman’s role in the church, which is biblically referenced as being men’s property and a role of “submission.”

Creech then said Faith in America’s hopes and his own personal hopes are to make bigotry toward people of a different sexual orientation stop in laws and churches, just as racial and woman’s rights bigotry stopped years ago.

“Everyone in this society should be given full rights, including gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people,” he said.

The first panelist to speak was Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, a State Representative. Wessel-Kroeschell worked on the Iowa Civil Right Code with other government officials to ensure housing, education, credit, employment and public accommodations to all people in Iowa. A strong believer in equality, she said she was bothered by statistics she found in the process – such as that one in 10 members of the gay community are fired or dismissed from their jobs when deciding to be open about their sexual orientation, and that two in five members of the gay community experience hostility in their workplace. She was passionate about putting an end to these issues and was one member who has voted to stop the bigotry experienced in Iowa in the Iowa Civil Rights Law.

“My job is to create a balance, and I believe I have done this,” she said.

Next to speak was attorney Jonathan Wilson. As an openly gay man, he talked of his struggles and tribulations in the workplace and in his personal life. He said he had lived in the closet for the majority of his life thus far, was married 25 years to a woman and had children. When he came out about his sexuality, he was not voted back on to serve on the Iowa Board of Education as he had for the previous 12 years. He said he finds himself being abused because he is a gay man. He said he was happy about the advancements the Iowa Legislature is making to assure members of the LGBT community fair opportunities.

Lastly, Carolyn Cutrona, professor in psychology, spoke of her child’s life as a lesbian and the effects it had on her social life. She said she was not looked highly upon in school and was discriminated against. However, she said her family’s church had always been supportive of LGBT members and her child had an escape from school cruelty. She spoke of how proud she was of her daughter and wanted others to know that there are places for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals to turn in Ames.

After the panelists were done, the floor was open to audience members who voiced their opinions on the campaign and also on what was said by panelists and Creech. Many opinions from the right, left, and everything in between emerged, making this part of the night especially tense and uncomfortable for many. Many gay members spoke of their trials with their orientation and other members spoke of their opposition toward the gay community.

The night was ended with a farewell by Creech and a thank you extended to all for their attendance.