When We Rise

2017 historical ensemble miniseries: Roma and Diane's substantial lifelong partnership and activism. Dramatized real people; performer credits are distinct from historical subjects.

Ended2017United States1 season · 8 episodes

The struggle for equality is built from public victories and private acts of persistence. This historical ensemble follows several LGBTQ…Read more +Read less −

The struggle for equality is built from public victories and private acts of persistence. This historical ensemble follows several LGBTQ activists across decades of American life, connecting organising, chosen family and the devastating impact of the AIDS crisis. Roma Guy and Diane Jones form a central partnership within that larger history, with their relationship developing alongside their commitments to community and social change. Different performers portray them at different stages of their lives, giving their story a sense of time passing rather than treating activism as one defining speech. The miniseries places lesbian love and family beside other experiences of the movement, showing how the work of caring for one another can become inseparable from the work of changing institutions.

Major sapphic storylineDrama

Sapphic characters & cast

Mary-Louise Parker

as Roma Guy

Main sapphic character

Rachel Griffiths

as Diane Jones

Supporting sapphic character

Emily Skeggs

as Young Roma Guy

Supporting sapphic character

Fiona Dourif

as Young Diane Jones

Supporting sapphic character

BEHIND THE SCENES

Details & credits

Country: United States
Language: English
Premiere: 2017-02-27
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 8

Image credits

Poster: TVmaze series catalogue · Source
Mary-Louise Parker: TVmaze performer catalogue · Source
Rachel Griffiths: TVmaze performer catalogue · Source
Emily Skeggs: TVmaze performer catalogue · Source
Fiona Dourif: TVmaze performer catalogue · Source

Sources & editorial notes (3)

Last researched 2026-11-14. Editorially approved.

year: Series identity, dates and cast — TVmaze
genres: Series identity, dates and cast — TVmaze
status: Series identity, dates and cast — TVmaze
country: Series identity, dates and cast — TVmaze
language: Series identity, dates and cast — TVmaze
description: Sourced sapphic storyline / cast evidence
watch links: Disney+ Canada official When We Rise full episodes page; checked 2026-11-14
season count: Series identity, dates and cast — TVmaze
western cast: Sourced sapphic storyline / cast evidence
episode count: Series identity, dates and cast — TVmaze
premiere date: Series identity, dates and cast — TVmaze
sapphic storyline: Sourced sapphic storyline / cast evidence
classification note: Sourced sapphic storyline / cast evidence
representation type: Sourced sapphic storyline / cast evidence