When We Rise is an eight‑part American docudrama miniseries that aired on ABC from February 27 to March 3 2017. Created and written by screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, the series dramatizes the modern history of LGBTQ rights advocacy in the United States, covering events from the early 1970s through the 2010s.
Production details
- Genre: Docudrama
- Created by / Writer: Dustin Lance Black
- Directors: Gus Van Sant, Dee Rees, Thomas Schlamme, and Dustin Lance Black (co‑director)
- Executive producers: Gus Van Sant, Dustin Lance Black, Laurence Mark, Bruce Cohen
- Production companies: Hungry Jackal Productions, Laurence Mark Productions, ABC Studios
- Network: American Broadcasting Company (ABC)
- Original language: English
- Number of episodes: 8
- Running time: Approximately 341 minutes total (≈42‑minute episodes)
Cast The series features an ensemble cast that includes Guy Pearce, Rachel Griffiths, Mary‑Louise Parker, Michael K. Williams, Austin P. McKenzie, Emily Skeggs, Jonathan Majors, Fiona Dourif, Whoopi Goldberg, Alexandra Grey, Phylicia Rashad, among others.
Subject matter When We Rise chronicles the personal and political struggles of a diverse group of LGBTQ activists who helped shape the movement from its early days—starting with the Stonewall riots in 1969—through key milestones such as the fight for marriage equality and broader civil‑rights recognition. The series interweaves dramatized reenactments with archival footage to depict both public demonstrations and private lives of the activists.
Reception The miniseries received generally positive reviews for its ambitious scope, historical relevance, and performances, particularly highlighting its effort to bring lesser‑known figures of the movement into mainstream awareness. Critics noted that while the series sometimes condensed complex events for narrative flow, it succeeded in presenting an accessible overview of several decades of LGBTQ activism.
Availability Following its original broadcast, When We Rise has been available on streaming platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and Hulu, allowing continued access for audiences interested in contemporary civil‑rights history.
