A documentary film on New Jersey police officer Laurel Hester's struggle to have her domestic partner recognized as her next of kin has won an Academy Award. The late Laurel Hester Freeheld: The Laurel Hester Story was directed and produced by filmmaker Cynthia Wade. Hester had been a lieutenant with the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office. Diagnosed with terminal cancer, she was forced to retire, and as the disease progressed, in late 2005 she appealed to the Ocean County, New Jersey freeholders to give her same-sex partner her death benefits. Although New Jersey recognized same-sex couples, it left it up to local governments to determine if benefits should be offered the partners of employees. After listening to her request, and her concern that when she died her partner, Stacie Andree, might lose their home, the freeholders rejected the request, with little discussion. The story was picked up across the United States, and as pressure mounted on freeholders, she was allowed to make a second plea a month later. Filmmaker Wade travelled to Ocean County and chronicled the events that followed. Too ill to appear in person, Hester appeared via video tape from her hospital room. In a frail voice, and often gasping for air, Hester begged for recognition of her partnership with Andree: "All I'm asking for is that you sign the resolution and that you make a change, a change for good, a change for righteousness and a change in the lives of so many people that have dedicated themselves to county government." After the tape was played, a second vote was held and resolution passed. Hester died just one month later. Freeheld: The Laurel Hester Story, premiered last year at the Sundance Film Festival. Wade said that she promised Hester she would submit the film for consideration for an Academy Award. Garden State Equality, which had lobbied freeholders on Hester's behalf, held an Oscar party in New Jersey to watch the Acadamy Award presentation. Members let out a cheer when the award was presented to Freeheld. Garden State Equality chair Steven Goldstein said the film should spur on state lawmakers to amend the civil union law to provide for full marriage for same-sex couples. "Because of the failure of the civil union law, there are new Laurel Hesters all across New Jersey," said Goldstein.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Tuesday, 26th February 2008 - 10:00pm