Laurel Hester Documentary Wins at Sundance

by: Juan Melli

Sun Jan 28, 2007 at 07:55:41 PM EST

Freeheld, the documentary film by Cynthia Wade about Lt. Laurel Hester's final months and her brave fight and eventual victory over inequality, received a Special Jury Prize at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival.

"Laurel and Stacie believed that their personal story could make a difference for same-sex couples around the nation," said Ms. Wade when she learned that her film had won a Special Jury Prize.
"The Sundance prize is a testament to their faith and belief that their struggle could make a difference in the fight for equality. This award belongs to Laurel and Stacie."

Laurel would be thrilled to know what a profound impact her life has had on the world. Garden State Equality will show Freeheld in New Jersey this spring.

Juan Melli :: Laurel Hester Documentary Wins at Sundance

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Laurel Hester Documentary Wins at Sundance | 1 comments

...and the 2007 Lieutenant Laurel Hester Prize for Citizen Courage (4.00 / 1)

will go to Blue Jersey at Garden State Equality's Legends Dinner on Sunday, March 4th. We'll have more soon information about the dinner specifically for the Blue Jersey community.

The history of the Lieutenant Hester Prize:

It is Garden State Equality's highest award for activism. We first awarded it to Lt. Hester in November 2005, shortly after we heard her story.

Subsequent recipients have included Stacie Andree, Lt. Laurel Hester's extraordinary life partner; and Dane Wells, Lt. Hester's dear friend and fellow officer who fought valiantly on her behalf.

The most recent recipient was Lily McBeth, the schoolteacher who successfully fought back attempts to bar her from the classroom merely because she is transgender.

Garden State Equality is incredibly proud to award the 2007 Lieutenant Hester Prize to Blue Jersey.

Blue Jersey was our lead organizational partner in the fight for Lt. Hester, and has been equally relentless in fighting on behalf of other New Jerseyans who have faced discrimination.

For the complete lineup of national political figures speaking at this year's Legends Dinner, please visit www.GardenStateEquality.org/legendsdinner.html

It's one of the great lineups of progressive leaders ever to appear at one event in New Jersey: Governor Mario Cuomo, Congressman Dennis Kucinich, Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin and Ambassador James Hormel, among several others, including many New Jersey elected officials.

by: Steven Goldstein, Garden State Equality chair @ Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 04:35:50 AM UTC