Our silence is our most menacing enemy.

That silence allows society to make the rules for us by defining who we are, and what we hope to accomplish in our lives. And that silence is allowing ignorance and intolerance to play decisive roles in such life-altering matters as the right to be married and to have a family, and in such life-threatening matters as AIDS funding, research and patient care.

With that silence comes the core of our oppression.

Being invisible is the core. We experience hate, fear and prejudice because people don’t know we even exist. But we are still here. We are the daughters and sons, sisters and brothers and fathers and mothers.

The truth is we are everywhere on this campus. We are students and people of all professions. We do not always look or think alike. We do not always come from the same background. We live in every residence hall and attend every class on this campus. We are a part of every aspect of student life. We are even a part of the lives of individuals whose negative views of sexual orientation and gender identity would be shattered if they only knew the truth about who we really are.

Coming out is how we combat this ignorance. It is the opportunity to reclaim our power and our self-identity when we feel ashamed.

But coming out is more than just standing on a soapbox and screaming “I am queer” at the top of one’s lungs. Coming out extends to individuals who do not identify themselves as lesbian, bisexual, gay or transgendered. The silence of allies and friends is just as powerful as our silence.

Here at MSU, we pride ourselves on our diversity and our students. But most of all, we pride ourselves on the philosophy that we are always moving forward. Within the LBGT-identified student community and its allies, we have begun to notice a frighteningly real fact. That fact is the administration of this university seems to believe we are at the end of our journey.

The current administration thinks that by employing one person to handle LBGT concerns, it is meeting the needs of all LBGT-identified students. Forget that most universities of this size offer a complete office with multiple employees and a greater amount of resources.

The administration feels nobody cares if LBGT-identified students and their partners do not get the same benefits as undergraduate spouses. It also feels providing inclusive language in its policies is too much to ask, because gender identity is just too strange. Most importantly, where are the courses dealing with sexual orientation, affectional orientation and gender identity? At a center of intellectualism, there can be no justification for not making this a priority.

Yet to list all the offenses this university has allowed is even more frustrating, because we know it is not out of ignorance that these occur. For the last 10 years, the administration has been sitting on top of a document called “Moving Forward,” which clearly identifies where change is necessary. For the last 10 years, most of these recommendations have been blatantly ignored and forgotten.

Today, we ask MSU not only to stand up and assume the political power that might be able to end discrimination of this form forever, we also ask every student become aware. Realize what is occurring at this institution is not providing an environment where ideas and opinions may flow freely. Understand that by identifying yourself as being LBGT or being an ally is the answer to this problem.

We will not go to every student and force you to open up, talk about or even think about these issues. That is your choice and your issue to deal with. You have to take the path that makes you feel most comfortable. Just remember that moving beyond that zone of comfort is what will make change happen.

Our greatest enemy is not how other people will react to who we are, it is the anxiety and the silence that foster our own fears.

Matt Weingarden is a co-director of the Alliance of Lesbian-Bi-Gay-Transgendered and Straight Ally Students. He can be reached at weinga13@msu.edu.