When We Rise Parts VI and VII (Season 1, Episode 4)
TV Episode | 85 min | Drama

When We Rise

Parts VI and VII (Season 1, Episode 4)

TV Episode | 85 min | Drama

Part VI. 2008. The legalization of same-sex marriage has had a roller coaster of a ride. The latest victory was the California Supreme Court ruling that it is a constitutional right for people of the same sex to marry each other. That led ...See morePart VI. 2008. The legalization of same-sex marriage has had a roller coaster of a ride. The latest victory was the California Supreme Court ruling that it is a constitutional right for people of the same sex to marry each other. That led to Proposition 8 on the November ballot in California, that proposition which would overturn the Supreme Court of California ruling if it passes, which it does by a narrow margin. While the younger generation of the LGBT community have a renewed energy in taking up the fight following the Prop 8 defeat, Cleve, who saw what happened during the AIDS crisis in gay and lesbian partners having no legal rights when it came to issues of their significant other, sees a bigger picture in that there should be civil liberties for all, a fight which he sees at the national congressional level. Chad Griffin, who entered the Prop 8 fight late in the game and who is aware of Cleve's intention, tries to confirm an unfounded rumor in taking a meeting with who would traditionally be seen as the enemy, conservative lawyer Ted Olson. Confirming that rumor, Chad enters the fray with a riskier but more expeditious idea to get to Cleve's end goal. Roma, a Board of Health commissioner in San Francisco, meets one of Diane's poor cancer patients at the hospital, she unable to receive health care because she can't pay for it. As such, Roma's new civil liberties fight is to work toward universal health care in the city, and not only have subsidized health care on a disease by disease basis which is currently the case. Annie, who now has a good relationship with her mothers, has just given birth for the first time, to a daughter named Justice. Annie and her long term boyfriend Jandro are finding that they are facing financial pressures which leads to a request by Annie which she would not even have considered ten years earlier. And Ken long ago rediscovered God in his life, the church which saved him during a crisis. The City of Refuge Church, which rents out space once a week in the church Ken attends, leads Ken to what he feels is his next mission, as much for himself as for the people on the receiving end: providing meaningful support to the trans community. Part VII. 2010. "Words have meaning" is stated by a few characters which will play specifically into Cleve, Diane, Roma and Annie's lives. With David Boies and Ted Olson at the legal helm, the fight to bring the results of Prop 8 to the US Supreme Court first has to be fought in a front of a judge at a California District Court. If that fight is lost, their journey ends in failure. If that fight is won and is successful in the US Supreme Court, it would mean civil liberties for the LGBT community in all fifty states, and not just California. As the pro Prop 8 side has hired a powerful and astute lawyer in Charles Cooper, Cleve is concerned that he has only called one marriage expert to testify, Cleve who cannot help but believe there being a surprise twist in their argument. Boies has his more knowledgeable theory on Cooper's reasons for having only one expert witness, which may be confirmed or refuted with the testimony of that expert, Dr. David Blankenhorn. David, Ted, Cleve and Chad's fight takes an unexpected turn when Roberta Kaplan enters the fray, she representing Edie Windsor, who was presented with a $363,000 estate tax bill upon the death of her female spouse. Windsor's case aims to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act itself. In the fight, David, Ted, Cleve, Chad and now Roberta know that they have to win the hearts of Americans, most specifically the one occupying the White House, he who they hope will make a public statement in support, which may be their most difficult challenge. Meanwhile Roma seems to be in a funk despite she having won the fight for universal health care in San Francisco. Annie is the one who can see what Roma needs. That result leads to Roma and Diane being even more invested in the fight at the Supreme Court. And Ken is dismayed that many of what he would like to accomplish at the City of Refuge Church, such as the provision of food and shelter, cannot happen within their limited funds. He turns to some old friends for help in that matter, and hopes to bring his new and old churches together in that fight for more comprehensive supports for the marginalized in the name of Christian love and acceptance. Written by Huggo See less

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Cast	+ Add Cast
82 cast members

Name	Known for
Rachel Griffiths Diane Jones Diane Jones See fewer	Six Feet Under (2001)
Mary-Louise Parker Roma Guy Roma Guy See fewer	RED (2010)
Guy Pearce Cleve Jones Cleve Jones See fewer	Memento (2000)
Michael Kenneth Williams Ken Jones Ken Jones See fewer	The Wire (2002)
Austin P. McKenzie Young Cleve Jones Young Cleve Jones See fewer	Unhinged (I) (2020)
Emily Skeggs Young Roma Guy Young Roma Guy See fewer	Dinner in America (2020)
Jonathan Majors Young Ken Jones Young Ken Jones See fewer	The Harder They Fall (2021)
Fiona Dourif Young Diane Jones Young Diane Jones See fewer	Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (2016)
Henry Czerny David Boies David Boies See fewer	Mission: Impossible (1996)
Arliss Howard Ted Olson Ted Olson See fewer	The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
T.R. Knight Chad Griffin Chad Griffin See fewer	The Flight Attendant (2020)
Mary McCormack Roberta Kaplan Roberta Kaplan See fewer	Deep Impact (1998)
Pauley Perrette Robin Robin See fewer	NCIS (2003)
Phylicia Rashad Yvette Flunder Yvette Flunder See fewer	The Cosby Show (1984)
Rob Reiner Dr. David Blankenhorn Dr. David Blankenhorn See fewer	All in the Family (1971)
Richard Schiff Judge Vaughn Walker Judge Vaughn Walker See fewer	Man of Steel (2013)
William Sadler Chuck Cooper Chuck Cooper See fewer	Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (1991)
Todd Weeks Tom Ammiano Tom Ammiano See fewer	Perry Mason (2020)
Ivory Aquino Cecilia Chung Cecilia Chung See fewer	Batgirl
Jeremiah Birkett Paul Paul See fewer	L.A. Confidential (1997)
Matthew Del Negro Mayor Gavin Newsom Mayor Gavin Newsom See fewer	City on a Hill (2019)
Alexandra Grey Seville Seville See fewer	MacGyver (2016)
Jazzmun Bobbi Jean Baker Bobbi Jean Baker See fewer	Blast from the Past (1999)
Luis Jose Lopez Victor Victor See fewer	Jungle (I) (2017)
Phoebe Neidhardt Annie Jones Annie Jones See fewer	Silicon Valley (2014)
Jack Plotnick Gilbert Baker Gilbert Baker See fewer	Girls Will Be Girls (2003)
Alex Reznik Mitchell Katz Mitchell Katz See fewer	Seven Seconds (2018)
Juan Riedinger Jandro Jandro See fewer	Narcos (2015)
Douglas Smith Young Man Young Man See fewer	Big Little Lies (2017)
Jayne Taini Eloise Eloise See fewer	Unbelievable (2019)
Tish Allen Maggie Gallagher Maggie Gallagher See fewer	One Foot in the Grave (1990)
Morgan Brayton Leader Leader See fewer	Get Carter (2000)
Lisa Bunting Jill Jill See fewer	A Not So Royal Christmas (2023)
Doug Cameron Justice Kennedy Justice Kennedy See fewer	Heritage Minutes (1991)
Jennifer Copping Female Lawyer Female Lawyer See fewer	Alaska Daily (2022)
Keith Dallas Bobbi's Relative (as Keith Blackman Dallas) Bobbi's Relative (as Keith Blackman Dallas) See fewer	Snakes on a Plane (2006)
Megan Danso Young Black Lesbian Young Black Lesbian See fewer	Siren (2018)
Eva Fekete Old Union Woman Old Union Woman See fewer	Shut Eye (2016)
Larry Guli Justice Scalia Justice Scalia See fewer	When We Rise (2017)
BJ Harrison Bobbi's Mother Bobbi's Mother See fewer	Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
Arran Henn Agressive Journalist Agressive Journalist See fewer	Chappie (2015)
Paul T. Katami Paul Katami (as Paul Katami) Paul Katami (as Paul Katami) See fewer	When We Rise (2017)
Eric Keenleyside Union Boss Union Boss See fewer	Dreamcatcher (2003)
Larissa Laskin Roma's Sister Roma's Sister See fewer	The Onion Movie (2008)
Viv Leacock Straight Dad Straight Dad See fewer	Freddy vs. Jason (2003)
Paolo Maiolo Young Lawyer Young Lawyer See fewer	Nancy Drew (2019)
Carla Pauli Staffer Staffer See fewer	White Rabbit (I) (2015)
Kristin M. Perry Kris Perry (as Kris Perry) Kris Perry (as Kris Perry) See fewer	When We Rise (2017)
Florence Reiher Receptionist Nurse Receptionist Nurse See fewer	Nightwing: Prodigal (2014)
Arlina Rodriguez Victor's Wife Victor's Wife See fewer	Upload (2020)
Milo Shandel Male Lawyer Male Lawyer See fewer	Quarantine Fling (2022)
Linda Sorensen Edie Windsor Edie Windsor See fewer	Adventures in Babysitting (1987)
Sandra B. Stier Sandy Stier (as Sandy Stier) Sandy Stier (as Sandy Stier) See fewer	When We Rise (2017)
David Stuart Civil Liberties Lawyer Civil Liberties Lawyer See fewer	Virgin River (2019)
Emily Tennant Co-Worker Co-Worker See fewer	Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (2016)
Salvatore Vetro Andres Andres See fewer	Swerve (2017)
Alex Zahara Male Commisioner Male Commisioner See fewer	Horns (2013)
Jeffrey J. Zarrillo Jeff Zarrillo (as Jeff Zarrillo) Jeff Zarrillo (as Jeff Zarrillo) See fewer	When We Rise (2017)
Phillip Joseph Steward Tim Tim See fewer	Timeless (2016)
Debra Winger Elena Kagan Elena Kagan See fewer	Terms of Endearment (1983)
Stacey Bendfelt Woman Journalist (uncredited) Woman Journalist (uncredited) See fewer	Eureka (2006)
Julian Bond Self (archive footage) (uncredited) Self (archive footage) (uncredited) See fewer	Greased Lightning (1977)
Robyn Bradley White House Secretary (uncredited) White House Secretary (uncredited) See fewer	Supergirl (2015)
Grace Chin Court Clerk (uncredited) Court Clerk (uncredited) See fewer	The Age of Adaline (2015)
Steve Dakota Supervisor Gerardo Sandoval (uncredited) Supervisor Gerardo Sandoval (uncredited) See fewer	The Wrecking Yard (2019)
Lady Gaga Self (archive footage) (uncredited) Self (archive footage) (uncredited) See fewer	A Star Is Born (2018)
Laura Jane Jones singer (uncredited) singer (uncredited) See fewer	Sandy Wexler (2017)
Jennifer Kaleta Campaign Volunteer (uncredited) Campaign Volunteer (uncredited) See fewer	When We Rise (2017)
Yvette Lu Clinic Nurse (uncredited) Clinic Nurse (uncredited) See fewer	Superman & Lois (2021)
Tom MacNeill Demonstrator (uncredited) Demonstrator (uncredited) See fewer	The Uninvited (2009)
Rachel Matsuoka Lesbian Bride (uncredited) Lesbian Bride (uncredited) See fewer	Desolate (I) (2018)
Debra Norton-Miller City Hall Employee Walking Through Lobby (uncredited) City Hall Employee Walking Through Lobby (uncredited) See fewer	Possession (2015)
Barack Obama Self (archive footage) (uncredited) Self (archive footage) (uncredited) See fewer	Leave the World Behind (2023)
Lina Renna Justice (uncredited) Justice (uncredited) See fewer	The Edge of Seventeen (2016)
Lisiane Rodrigues Biset Latina Woman (uncredited) Latina Woman (uncredited) See fewer	Play with Me (2019)
Paul Rogic Undercover Cop (uncredited) Undercover Cop (uncredited) See fewer	Dragged Across Concrete (2018)
Donald Sales New Director (uncredited) New Director (uncredited) See fewer	The Adam Project (2022)
Bonnie Jean Shelton Lesbian Bride (uncredited) Lesbian Bride (uncredited) See fewer	Lady Bird (2017)
Charles Socarides Richard Socarides (uncredited) Richard Socarides (uncredited) See fewer	When We Rise (2017)
Andy Tabbat Reporter (uncredited) Reporter (uncredited) See fewer	Unleashed (I) (2016)
Johnny Veres Gay Male Activist (uncredited) Gay Male Activist (uncredited) See fewer	Creepshow (2019)
Edie Windsor Self (archive footage) (uncredited) Self (archive footage) (uncredited) See fewer	Edie & Thea: A Very Long Engagement (2009)