A scholarship fund has been established in the name of Lt. Laurel Hester of New Jersey who died last weekend. When I
interviewed Laurel she told me that before her illness she had planned to soon retire from police work and follow her dream of working with young people. Laurel remembered all too well how hard it can be to grow up gay or lesbian. As always with Laurel, her purpose in life was to make things better and she wanted to find a way to make this better as well.
Laurel's partner, Stacie Andree, and
Dane Wells, a co-worker who helped Laurel in her fight for equality, have found a way to help Laurel's dream come true despite her passing. They have announced the creation of the Laurel Hester Scholarship Fund/TPLF, c/o The Personal Liberty Fund, P.O. Box 11335, New Brunswick, NJ 08906-1335. The scholarship will be for the benefit of "young adults who have shown leadership in the LGBTI community." It will be administered by the New Jersey Lesbian & Gay Coalition, an organization that includes about 25 groups as members. Crossposted at the Big Gay Picture
Big Gay Picture.
Laurel's memorial service has also been announced. It will take place at noon Saturday, March 4 at St. Mary's By the Sea Episcopal Church, 804 Bay Ave., Point Pleasant Beach. Friends may call 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. in Farnsworth Hall at the church.