CLEVE LAYS THE AIDS QUILT AT THE FEET OF THE NATION, ROMA AND DIANE DISCOVER WHO ANNIE'S BIOLOGICAL FATHER IS, AND KEN LOSES EVERYTHING BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR ADDICTION FROM THE U.S. MILITARY AND GOD ON PART III OF 'WHEN WE RISE'

David Hyde Pierce, Sam Jaeger, Dylan Walsh, T.R. Knight and Ivory Aquino Guest Star

"Part III" - A decade has passed, it's the early 90s, HIV/AIDS continues to ravage the gay community, and Cleve, Ken and Richard now know they have this deadly disease. In order to get the country, the U.S. government and the President to give those dying of AIDS any attention, Cleve dedicates his waning energy to creating the Names Project AIDS Memorial quilt. Ken's home ripped away from him and his health failing, Cecilia Chung helps him enter a VA hospital to receive the treatment any veteran deserves - but in this era of Don't Ask Don't Tell, this environment proves challenging. Roma lives with Diane and Diane's daughter, Annie, now a young pre-teen. When Annie begins asking about her father, Roma and Diane set out to find him, but are surprised to learn his identity and must make changes to their treasured little family.

It's 1997, Cleve has moved to Palm Springs for his health, and has been pushed aside by modern LGBT rights organizations. When he objects to one such group honoring a president who signed Don't Ask Don't Tell and the Defense of Marriage Act, he learns just how little clout he now holds. Cleve does, however, find brief happiness in fatherhood when he begins the process to foster parent a sick neighbor's child. Diane's daughter, Annie, in full teenage rebellion mode, is sent to Catholic school where she struggles to find her place as a child of lesbians and a gay man. Meanwhile, Ken checks himself into a VA HIV+ drug addiction program where he grows close to a closeted gay man. But unable to be out in this military environment, things only grow darker, and Ken must turn back to his roots, to God, for the help he desperately needs, on "When We Rise," THURSDAY, MARCH 2 (9:00-11:00 p.m. EST), on the ABC Television Network.

"When We Rise" stars Guy Pearce as Cleve Jones, Mary-Louise Parker as Roma Guy, Rachel Griffiths as Diane, Michael K. Williams as Ken Jones, Austin McKenzie as Young Cleve, Jonathan Majors as Young Ken, Emily Skeggs as Young Roma and Fiona Dourif as Young Diane.

Guest starring are David Hyde Pierce as Dr. Jones, Ivory Aquino as Cecilia Chung, Dylan Walsh as Dr. Marcus Conant, Sam Jaeger as Richard, T.R. Knight as Chad Griffin, Todd Weeks as Tom Ammiano, Rafael De La Fuente as Ricardo, Charles Socarides as Richard Socarides, John Rubinstein as Charles Socarides, Balthazar Getty as David, Don Frankel as President Clinton, Gideon Adlon as Annie, Jayne Taini as Elouise, JJ Boone as Leslie, Willam Belli as Jason, Lydia Boland as Annie, Melora Hardin as Carole Midgen, Seth Fisher as Senior Advisor, Chris Pray as Bystander and Douglas Smith as Young Man.

The first hour of "Part III" was written by Peter Parnell and directed by Tommy Schlamme. The second hour was written by Derek Simonds and directed by Tommy Schlamme.

"When We Rise" is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format with a 5.1 channel surround sound. A TV parental guideline will be assigned closer to the airdate.