I am a white heterosexual female and I have enjoyed the privileges that come with those identities for most of my life. However, for the last year, I have been in a serious relationship with a woman. I still consider myself “straight,” but I am deeply in love with my girlfriend—try fitting that into an acronym.

I am “coming out” about this to the Gustavus community in light of last week’s Coming Out Week and the acts of hate that unfortunately accompanied it. I have always been a strong supporter of the LGBT community, but now, more than ever, I truly understand what it feels like to be a victim of ignorance, intolerance and hatred.

Regardless of the efforts of certain individuals on this campus to propagate their intolerant agendas, we must not be dissuaded from our mission to advocate for equality. Anyone can claim their message as “fact,” but fact is not determined simply by how vehemently someone says (or paints, or uploads) it. And that “fact” does not become truth based on how zealously it is believed. Now is not the time for complacency. Now is the time that we all must stand firmly behind the core values WE know truly define Gustavus. I am standing up for faith, service, community, excellence, justice, and most importantly, love. So I ask you, my beloved Gustavus community, what will you stand up for?

Meredith Feenstra ’12