DOMESTIC PARTNER BENEFITS ARE HELD UP IN FREEHELD
New Jersey voted for domestic partnerships in 2005 but left a loophole for survivor benefits in government union contracts. Freeheld, directed by Peter Sollett, focuses primarily on a true story involving Laurel Hester (played by Julianne Moore) and Stacee Andre (Ellen Page). Not long after Stacee is swept up by a “love at first sight” encounter of Laurel, the two become domestic partners. Laurel, a police officer for the county, smokes too much, and is diagnosed with fourth stage lung cancer at a critical point in the film. When Laurel’s request for survivor benefits is denied by the Board of Freeholders of conservative Ocean County, New Jersey, the plot thickens. The local newspaper runs front page stories. Gay activist Steven Goldstein (Steve Carell) and his entourage of protesters apply pressure by chanting “You have the power” during Board meetings. But Laurel’s straight police partner Dane Wells (Michael Shannon) turns the tide: He make an impassioned speech, mobilizes other police to assist, and even finds out that some members of the Board have two or more survivor benefit arrangements. The latter is particularly embarrassing, providing a Damoclean sword to pressure the Board. The outcome is obvious, and a title at the end indicates that the state legislature, responding to the well-publicized case, modified the law in 2006 to explicitly allow survivor benefits. Accordingly, the Political Film Society has nominated Freeheld as best film on human rights of 2015. MH