LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 18: Actor Sam Pancake attends the premiere of Netflix’s “Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life” at the Regency Bruin Theatre on November 18, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

“A legion of men died so you can live now. Respect me, bitch!”

Comedian Sam Pancake’s rant from the most recent episode of Lovett or Leave It (The Rurual Jurors) was a powerful call-to-action for the gay community about aging and knowing our history.

Pancake, who is 51, gets real about feeling disrespected by younger members of the LGBTQ community for being old, and in a powerful monologue about ‘gaygism’ reminds people that for many in the community getting old is a luxury their friends did not get to experience.

Pancake talks about the dark days if the 1990s and the how the AIDS epidemic indelibly affected our generation. And how a younger gay guy made fun of him losing his vision as he got older and how he snapped, “You’ll be either my age or dead.”

Pancake shares that many of his friends and acquaintances, and even his uncle and a former boss, fell victim to the AIDS epidemic of the 80s and 90s. He implores people to learn this tragic history and remember that older members of the community fought so that younger folks could live openly, honestly and safely today. “I fought for you, I marched for you…a lot of guys my age, a lot of whom died, made the world okay for you now.”

Chills. Sobs. @jsampancake's #LovettorLeaveIt rant may or may not cause both. https://t.co/TP9MbticCp pic.twitter.com/C6RwW3kMh4

— Crooked Uncultured (@UnculturedByCm) January 28, 2020

Many celebs and notables are sharing the rant, including Trixie Mattel, Lauren Graham, Constance Zimmer, Kevin McHale, and more.

Pancake has appeared in numerous commercials and has appeared on a number of popular television shows, including Curb Your Enthusiasm, Wings, Will & Grace, Friends, The King of Queens, Charmed, Fat Actress and Arrested Development.

He also appeared in the 2011 film A Holiday Engagement.

Pancake previously starred on the FOX television show Kitchen Confidential and starred in the Lifetime Television series Lovespring International. Pancake also played Mable in the 2008 independent feature film Ready? OK