Sunday kicked off the first national week of action for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality.

The Iowa Coalition for Human Rights is sponsoring Equality Begins at Home, a week of political activism.

“Equality Begins at Home is a set of statewide political actions that we are trying to carry out, with about 350 events happening around the nation this week,” said Peg Sandeen, advice chairwoman of the Iowa Coalition for Human Rights.

Never before has there been a coordinated week of political actions of such magnitude in all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality, Sandeen said.

On Sunday, activists around the state met in Ames for Truth Squad training to learn how to effectively communicate with elected officials. The week’s focus involves the activists applying the skills learned in training at a rally being held today at the state capitol.

“[Today] we will lobby at the capitol on the civil rights bill, which has been introduced to the Legislature two years in a row and died in committee both times,” Sandeen said.

A training session will be provided for potential lobbyists from 9 to 10:30 a.m., after which participants will be stationed in the capitol’s cafeteria.

Sandeen, who also is on the executive board of the Federation of LGBT Statewide Political Organizations, hopes the lobbying will be productive and help in finally getting the bill passed.

“The Legislature is purposefully bogging the bill down in a committee whose leader is very anti-LGBTA and refuses to look at the bill,” she said. “They are abusing the political process by doing so.”

Curt Lund, sophomore in graphic design, also will be lobbying at the capitol.

“My No. 1 goal for lobbying is to drum up support for the civil rights bill,” Lund said. “We are closer than we’ve ever been to passing this bill, and I think that this rally might be a voice to get something through.”

Lt. Gov. Sally Pederson will deliver opening remarks at the lobbying rally at 10:30 a.m. today.