Dying lesbian
officer turned down on benefits—again

Officials in Ocean County, N.J., have again rejected the request by a lesbian police lieutenant to secure benefits for her partner. Laurel Hester has only a few weeks to live and pleaded her case via video on Wednesday, but that still didn't persuade officials to approve a resolution allowing county employees to pass on their pension benefits to domestic partners, TheNew York Times reported. During the monthly meeting of county officials, the wood-paneled room was filled with Hester's supporters, including clergymen, veterans, and police officers, the newspaper reported. Steven Goldstein, chairman of New Jersey gay rights group Garden State Equality, played the videotape of Hester. The room was silent as the 49-year-old told officials, "I've been diagnosed with several brain tumors, hence the loss of hair," she said. "In addition, it has spread elsewhere." Hester, according to the Times, told the room that she wants her domestic partner, Stacie Andree, 30, to be able to collect her pension benefits so that Andree can afford to keep the house the couple bought a few years ago. "All I'm asking for is that you sign the resolution and that you make a change," Hester said in the video, wheezing, "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." The officials tried to defend their reasons for not extending the benefits. These included high costs or the fact that the law was "unfair" because it did not provide for siblings or other relatives who were not married to each other to share benefits. They were shouted down by the crowd, who chanted, "You have the power, you have the power," according to the newspaper. George Farrugia, president of the Gay Officers Action League, told officials, "Six other counties have shown that you have the power to act. Your inaction is reprehensible." (Advocate.com)