The debate on homosexuality attracted 40 participants Thursday evening when students and faculty met in Lindsey Auditorium for a screening of the documentary “For the Bible tells me so.”

Some students wept as the film documented prejudices encountered by five real-life Christian families. The difficulties of parental and self-acceptance, in a culture based on biblical teachings was one of the topics discussed.

The film focused on how many gay and lesbian people are forced to live in two different worlds. One of the families in the film, which rejected their daughter’s sexual orientation, remained cut off from her until her suicide.

Those attending stayed to discuss the film and its personal and social reverberations. The free event was hosted by the University Chaplain, Center for Multicultural Excellence and DUPB and included a dialogue between the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex and questioning (GLBTIQ) community and biblical experts.

There was a general agreement that “the core principle of the Bible is love.” Most encouraged a collaboration between the Bible and homosexuality as presented in the film by speakers like Bishop Desmond Tutu.

The film stressed the importance of contextual readings of the Bible, including Leviticus 20, which forbids the mixing of cloth, the planting of two kinds of seeds in a field and tattoos. Most people pay no mind to these laws, but choose rather to make “homosexuals the new ‘other,'” according to the film.

The inspirational thread of the movie included the election of the first gay Anglican bishop, Gene Robinson, and the acceptance by the Lutheran Reitan family of their homosexual son, Jacob.

The film stimulated conversation about GLBTIQA acceptance and support, especially on the DU campus.

Freshman Carly Schlotterer said, “You have to sit down and actually have this conversation with people.”