Many of you are already familiar with the struggle of New Jersey police officer Laurel Hester, who, after many exemplary years on the force, has developed terminal cancer, and must leave the job she loves behind. (For background, read
BlueJersey.net.)
She will also leave a loved one, her partner of many years, Stacie Andree. Her female partner. Hester is a lesbian.
Her dying wish is to ensure that her pension benefits are awarded to Andree, which is absolutely possible, as New Jersey has ruled that counties have the ability to grant their employees domestic partner benefits. This could all be wrapped up so easily, and so quickly.
It could be, were it not for the continuing refusal of the Ocean County Board of Freeholders. These men (all Republican, by the way) have the authority to award the pension benefits to Andree, which must be done before Hester passes away.
Here's something you can do about it --
You need to send the Ocean County freeholders a copy of "To Kill a Mockingbird" -- ASAP.
Why "To Kill a Mockingbird"?
This is Hester's favorite book. It is a classic, a story of a man, Atticus Finch, who makes a choice between what is right, and what is easy. His is the quintessential tale of why it is important to stand up and fight for justice, though the fight may get ugly, and it might be long. Hester loves this book so much, she even named her dog "Boo" (a pivotal character in the story).
The citizens of New Jersy have come out resoundingly in support of Hester. Her plight has triggered other counties to move forward in extending domestic partner benefits (like Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Mercer, Union and now Monmouth counties).
This is wonderful, but it doesn't help a dying officer secure their home for her partner (Andree might lose the house in which they've lived for many years, if she is not made the recipient of Hester's pension).
We need to convince the recalcitrant freeholders to do what is right.
They refuse to do so, citing many specious reasons, from cost (debunked, here...), to protests of having no authority, to, well, nothing substantive. (Read more at BlueJersey.net.)
Help them to do what is just. Help them to do what is right.
Help let this bird take wing.
The Big, Gay Picture has joined with Garden State Equity (a New Jersey GLBT group) to organize a dramatic protest. (Read more at...The Big, Gay Picture.)
To help convince the Ocean county freeholders to do what is right, they are asking that folks send a copy of "To Kill a Mockingbird" to the freeholders before the next freeholder meeting (January 18th; the books must arrive on or before January 17th). Send the books to
Ocean County Freeholders, c/o Steve Goldstein
585 Standish Road
Teaneck, NJ; 07666
Thank you, all you Finches, for standing up for what is right.