■ The late Lt. Laurel Hester (left) with her partner Stacie Andre and their dog Lieutenant Dan. Photo courtesy Lieutenant Films Inc

OCEAN COUNTY, January 22, 2008  –  A dying wish of Lt. Laurel Hester was that the documentary film made of her last days as she battled against cancer – and the ‘freeholders’ of Ocean County in New Jersey – would be able to compete for an ‘Oscar’.

Today, in Los Angeles, members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences granted that wish when FREEHELD made it to the final four titles in the “Best Documentary Short Subject”.  The film won the Special Jury Prize at last year’s Sundance Film Festival and awards at 11 other festivals.

The 38-minute film, made by Cynthia Wade, tells the story of Lt. Hester, who for almost 25 years served her community as a police officer, and her fight with local officials to be able to leave her police pension to her long-term and committed partner Stacie Andree.

At the time, New Jersey law allowed, but did not require, local authorities to extend “domestic partner benefits” to lesbian and gay couples.  But nine months after the death of Lt. Hester the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples must be granted the same rights as married heterosexual couples.

The freeholders (councillors) of Ocean County refused Lt. Hester’s request.  But they changed their mind shortly before she died, following a campaign spearheaded by a former work partner Dane Wells, who describes himself as a “run-of-the-mill, middle-aged straight guy”

“I hope this film will inspire someone,” Lt. Hester explained in December 2005, six weeks before she passed away. “I hope it gives them courage if they’re dealing with discrimination, as I have … I hope if they have a terminal disease they somehow get hope from listening to my story.”

For Lt. Hester, FREEHELD represented a unique opportunity to share her story.  In December 2005, just six weeks before she died, Laurel spoke candidly on video about what the film meant to her.  To view this never-before-seen interview, click HERE

■ Police officers across New Jersey were supportive of  Lt. Hester.  This support was evident in their co-operation with the FREEHELD crews in making the film and it’s DVD “extras”

SEE ALSO

AfterEllen - USA: 
"Freeheld" Is Nominated for an Oscar.  By Suzanne Corson.  A superb “must read” feature length article that contains main thus far unreported aspects of Laurel Hester’s fight for pension rights with local politicians.  Posted January 23, 2008.

FREEHELD will be available on DVD later this year.

LINK

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Posted: 22 January 2008 at 18:30 (UK time)