RON NYSWANER

FREEHELD (2015)
Starring Julianne Moore, Ellen Page and Steve Carell. Directed by Peter Sollett.

The true story of New Jersey Police Detective Laurel Hester, whose world is shattered when she becomes terminally ill and government officials prevent her from assigning her pension to her loving partner, Stacie Andree.

During her career, Laurel had kept her sexual orientation a secret, fearing discrimination. Outside of work she fell in love and built a life with Stacie. After being diagnosed with a terminal illness, Laurel braved coming out to her workplace in the hopes that Stacie would be granted the same rights as a heterosexual partner. Whereby upon the death of a police officer, their spouse is eligible to receive the officer’s pension. But the conservative county commissioners (known as Freeholders) refused her request, citing religious and budgetary reasons. In this heartrending and inspiring story, Laurel spends her last days fighting to overrule the decision in court, Stacie struggles to care for her ailing partner, and fellow police officers and larger-than-life gay political activist Steven Goldstein, rally to Laurel’s cause.

REVIEWS Freeheld - The battle for equal love