Rise up together

Dustin Lance Black says ‘When We Rise’ under attack from alt-right but even Trump will like it

Dustin Lance Black made an appearance at the Television Critics Association Winter press tour on Tuesday, where he said the alt-right have launched a campaign against his upcoming ABC miniseries “When We Rise.” But he thinks the eight-hour series, which tracks key moments in the fight for LGBTQ rights, has something for everyone, even President-elect Donald Trump.

“I think there’s a lot of people who voted for Donald Trump who will love this show,” Black said. “I didn’t write this show for half the country. If Donald Trump watches the show, I think he might like the show.”

Related: Dustin Lance Black wraps ‘When We Rise,’ collapses into Tom Daley’s arms

“Every single person in this world is a minority, depending on how you slice the pie, and this show is about how we are connected,” he added, Variety reports.

Black said he suspected a coordinated effort to go after the miniseries when he noticed an abundance of mean comments on the YouTube posting of the “When We Rise” trailer that were mostly racist and anti-Semitic. He found that the posters were associated with so-called “alt-right” groups, which is a rebranding of white nationalism.

He eventually was led to a YouTube video that breaks down the trailer with a pop-psychology analysis of Black’s relationship with his father.

Black said it was hurtful to watch but that he found parts of it to be humorous, saying, “I thought, ‘This guy is actually funny.’ If he and I met in a bar we’d probably actually get along.'”

Related: Dustin Lance Black has no patience for A-listers who lie about their sexuality

He said that he wishes to reach these very people, having written the show not to preach to the choir but rather to humanize the struggle for equal rights to his conservative, Mormon, military family.

“When We Rise” airs Feb. 27 to March 2 on ABC.

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