When We Rise - Season 1, Episode 04: Part IV

Trailer

1992. The gay male and lesbian movements are merging closer and closer to being one cohesive and supportive family. The AIDS epidemic has devastated the gay male community, with Cleve, Ricardo, Ken and Richard all having tested positive for the virus, some having been close to death, but all who have watched most of their gay friends die. Both Cleve and Ricardo, and Ken and Richard have vowed to each other that they will stay with each other to the end, through what will most likely be a painful death. Those vows may be difficult to keep if and when the time comes. In their own individual health situations, Cleve has so far refused to take AZT, wanting to feel better without the drug than feel crappy with the drug, with no real proven evidence that the drug will prolong life. Cleve may have to go to 'the other side' to get access to more promising experimental drugs. He will get some unexpected support in the matter. And under changing circumstances, Ken decides he has no other option but to request VA medical services. Ken and Richard in particular will discover what their rights are as individuals in the life and death decisions for the other. Cleve has continued to fight for gay rights, his calls having fallen on deaf ears in the White House through the Reagan and Bush administrations. He is now touring with the AIDS quilt, it not only a symbol to the memory of the fallen gay men, but what Cleve hopes will be visual reminder of what gay men are fighting for. The organized gay community does not all have the same perspective of the quilt that Cleve does, some who want to burn it. Incoming President Clinton has promised many of those rights for which Cleve has been fighting. The gay and lesbian communities will discover how much Clinton will keep to his promises in these political times. Roma and Diane have now been living together for a few years with Diane's now ten year old daughter, Annie. Although Diane has been able truthfully to tell Annie that she does not know who the sperm donor was, Annie wanting to know who her father definitively is comes much earlier than Diane or Roma had expected. If they oblige Annie's request to try and discover his identity, they may not like the outcome. And Cecilia goes through some emotional highs and lows in her desire to become a full fledged female.

Genre: Drama, Documentary