'Freeheld' wins Oscar

http://www.sovo.com/blog/index.cfm?type=blog&start=2/19/08&end=2/26/08

Cynthia Wade's documentary about the struggles of Lt. Laurel Hester took home the Oscar tonight for Best Documentary Short. "Freeheld" is the story of Hester's final struggles with cancer and her fight against the freeholders of Ocean County, N.J., who almost denied her partner, Stacie Andree, Hester's pension benefits. For a full story, see my related article from a few weeks ago.

Upon accepting the award (which came surprisingly late in the interminable evening), Wade said, "It was Lt. Laurel Hester's dying wish that her fight" would "make a difference for same sex couples." Andree was also present, and the camera cut to her towards the end of the speech.