In Part 2 of his Independence Day series, Stuart Merrill asks listeners if they would rather be right or live in a world where they have rights. He also, reflects on why NOW as one of the most consequential moments in modern LGBTQ+ history. Drawing on more than fifty years as an activist, lobbyist, and survivor of the AIDS crisis, he argues that the community’s greatest threat is not only political opposition, but also internal division. He shares stories from his own life, the power of unexpected allies, and the importance of kindness, respect, and everyday human connection in creating lasting social change. Throughout the episode, he challenges listeners to ask whether they would rather be right or live in a society where they have rights, and closes with a moving reminder that each generation inherits struggles it did not choose—and is judged by what it leaves behind.

Today's youth have it very rough, but it's not hopeless. Many generations of Americans inherited a broken world—and a responsibility to fix it. So put on your big boy, you big girl and your big transgender pants, suck it up, stop complaining and let's get to work.

Drawing on firsthand experiences and hard-won victories hof an AIDS survivor, anti-gay violence survivor, LGBTQ+ political activist & lobbyist, Stuart argues a provocative, emotional, and unapologetically honest call to action for younger generations of LGBTQ+.

Generations of LGBTQ+ people grew up searching for the elders who never came. In this powerful Pride episode, Stuart Merrill and Adaline Reid explore the legacy of AIDS, queer isolation, and the healing power of chosen family.