Documentary About Lesbian Nominated For Oscar

Short documentary about late Laurel Hester, a police lieutenant, who had cancer and struggled for her partner's right to have a pension after her death has become a Oscar nominee for "Best short documentary".

The film won a special prize at Sundance film festival and got 11 other prizes at film festivals in New York, Los-Angeles, Boston, Seattle and Denver.

38 minute long film of Cynthia Wade "Freeland'' tells the story of Laurel Hester who new she had incurable disease and knew that after her death her registered domestic partner Stacie Andree will not be able to pay rent for the house where the couple lived. Hester demanded that Stacie, like partners of heterosexual policemen must have mortgage payments her death.

Lieutenant Laurel Hester was a 23-year veteran of the Ocean County prosecutor's office when she was struck down by lung cancer. The cancer was spreading very rapidly and it was clear that Hester had little time to live.

If Hester were a married heterosexual she would be able to pass on pension benefits to her spouse, but this privilege was not accorded to same-sex domestic partners in Ocean County.

Laurel appealed to local authorities to change this policy. The proposal was voted against by five freeholders in a private meeting on November 9 2005 with argument that it threatened "the sanctity of marriage"

Hester's struggle for her partner's right has become a very important event in the history of the state. She struggled for 6 months and succeeded. Laurel was supported by many non-commercial organizations and ordinary people both homosexuals and heterosexuals, by everyone who could not be indifferent to the story of dead-sick woman who fought for well-being of her beloved person.

On January 18, 2006 a videotaped appeal by Hester from her hospital bed was shown at a meeting of the freeholders. The next day the freeholders announced that they were reversing their stance and would meet on January 25 to extend pension benefits to registered domestic partners.

Hester died on February 18, 2006, aged 49, in her home in Point Pleasant, New Jersey
9 months after Hester's death Supreme Court of New Jersey announced ban on marriage between homosexuals unconstitutional and ordered that lesbians and gays must have equal rights with heterosexuals.

On February, 19 2007 New Jersey became the third American state where citizen partnership identical to marriage between homosexuals was legalized. .

The director of the film Cynthia Wade is known for her daring view of social problems. As a rule her heroines are women with strong character. Wade managed to get permission to exclusive interview - that is why the film tells about many things that were inaccessible for mass media.

Wade left her husband and two daughters in New York and went to New Jersey where she worked at the film.

"My elder daughter is adult already and she is convinced that all couples - both homosexual and heterosexual must have equal rights - says Cynthia - This has become out family project - one family demonstrated support to another.