WAVERLY - The iconic rainbow-colored gay pride flag first flew in 1978, but art depicting same-sex relationships appears as early as prehistoric times, according to activist Nick Manna.

The West Des Moines man spoke to Wartburg College students and staff Monday night. His talk, addressing the history and accomplishments of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, is part of a weeklong GAYLA celebration of GLBT culture on the Waverly campus.

French cave paintings dating back to 1200 B.C. depicted gay couples, said the 19-year-old.

"That's our first real, concrete proof that homosexuality was exhibited," Manna said. "It wasn't until later that it was criminalized, and even then, (prosecution) was usually done only to get back at your political opponents."

GAYLA activities at Wartburg kicked off Saturday and will run through Sunday. The events are sponsored by Alliance, a campus group for GLBT students and their supporters.

Organization members are offering a clinic today aimed at fostering inclusion and respect for all individuals. The week crescendoes with a Sunday drag show featuring staff, students and professional performers.

The GAYLA events also educate students about the challenges gay individuals face, and the accomplishments of the group, said Lacey Stonehocker, an Alliance member. Many of those entering Monday's discussion stopped to examine photos of famous people who either identified as homosexuals or whom historians believe were gay. Featured individuals included artist Frida Kahlo, actor James Dean and politician Harvey Milk.

"We try to offer a lot of education, for both the students and the community," Stonehocker said.

During Manna's talk, the history buff recounted the persecution faced by GLBT people through the years. In earlier times, men or women in gay relationships were sentenced to death. More recently, European gays perished in Nazi concentration camps, while their American counterparts were pushed out of government jobs during the Cold War.

Learning about GLBT history can help straight people understand the discrimination gays face, and Wartburg freshman Becky Fishbune.

"You don't even realize how much you're discriminating against people until you have the opportunity to see that these people need the rights that we have," said Fishbune, an Alliance member.

Manna's hour-long talk addressed past abuses of GLBT people, but the teen ended his speech by saying "the arc of history bends toward justice."

"A lot of social institutions that we take for granted today have not always been that way. … Things can change back and forth," Manna said afterward.

Contact Mary Stegmeir

at (319) 291-1482

or mary.stegmeir@wcfcourier.com.