Check Out the Powerful First Look at Gus Van Sant and Dustin Lance Black’s 7-Part LGBT Rights Miniseries “When We Rise”

Dustin Lance Black and Gus Van Sant’s 7-part, 8-hour gay rights miniseries, When We Rise, just released its powerful first preview.

The ABC special event chronicling the rise of the modern LGBT civil rights movement, stars (*deep breath*) Guy Pearce, Rachel Griffiths, Mary-Louise Parker, Rosie O’Donnell, Michael K. Williams, Whoopi Goldberg, David Hyde Pierce, Dylan Walsh, Rob Reiner, T.R. Knight, Phylicia Rashad, Richard Schiff, NCIS favorite Pauley Perrette, and Mary McCormack.

via Variety:

“When We Rise” — hailing from “Milk” scribe Dustin Lance Black — chronicles the personal and political struggles, setbacks and triumphs of a diverse family of LGBT men and women who helped pioneer one of the last legs of the U.S. Civil Rights movement from its turbulent infancy in the 20th century to the once unfathomable successes of today. The period piece tells the history of the gay rights movement, starting with the Stonewall Riots in 1969.

Pearce will star as LGBT activist Cleve Jones, who joined the gay liberation movement in 1972 and was befriended by pioneer gay rights leader Harvey Milk. Parker will play women’s rights leader Roma Guy, who co-founded the San Francisco Women’s Building, and Griffiths will play her wife, social justice activist Diane, who joined the Women’s Movement in the 1970s in San Francisco. Williams will portray African-American community organizer Ken Jones, and Aquino will play the role of transgender activist Cecilia Chung.

Goldberg will play Pat Norman, the first openly gay employee of the San Francisco Health Department; O’Donnell will play Del Martin, co-founder of the first lesbian organization in the country; Denis O’Hare will play Foster, openly gay Democratic party organizer; and Pierce will play Cleve’s (Pearce) father, Dr. Jones.