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Laurel Hester Documentary Wins Academy Award

Los Angeles—A documentary film on the struggle by New Jersey police officer Laurel Hester's struggle to have her domestic partner recognized as her next of kin has won an Academy Award.

Freeheld: The Laurel Hester Story was directed and produced by filmmaker Cynthia Wade. The award was presented Sunday night at the 80th Annual Academy Awards, held at the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles.

We are thrilled that this powerful film, one that has the potential to change hearts and minds concerning fairness for gay couples, has been honored, said Neil Giuliano president of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. We congratulate Cynthia Wade on her achievement and say ?bravo? to the Academy for their selection.

Hester had been a lieutenant with the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office. Diagnosed with terminal cancer she was forced to retire. In late 2005, as the disease progressed 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, with little discussion the freeholders rejected the request.

The story was picked up across the country and as pressure mounted on freeholders she was allowed to make a second plea a month later. Filmmaker Wade traveled 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 moving tape was played a second vote was held and resolution passed.

A month later Hester died. (story)

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 awards 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.

Same-sex couples denied equal benefits by employers, struggling to make ends meet, struggling to maintain their dignity, in the face of a civil union law that segregates, discriminates and humiliates.

Last week a government commission released a report saying the civil union law had failed to provide the same equality as marriage.

Full post as published by NJ Domestic Partnership on February 25, 2008 (boomark / email).