D.P. Benefits To Dying Lesbian Cop

TOMS RIVER, NJ -- After months of protests by gay-rights advocates, Ocean County freeholders have decided to reverse a previous decision and will extend death benefits to the lesbian partner of a veteran detective dying of lung cancer. The benefit will also be extended to other members of the Police and Fire Retirement System.

"I think we're doing the right thing now," Freeholder James F. Lacey told the Ocean County Observer. "I feel comfortable."

The decision was made after a teleconference Friday among Republican leaders in the county, including state Sens. Andrew Ciesla and Leonard T. Connors.

"They wanted to discuss this," Connors told the paper. "The freeholders want to give this lady's companion the benefits that others get."

New Jersey state law allows local government to provide benefits to the same-sex partners of their workers. As a result of the Hester case a number of communities that had not already done so quickly moved to amend their laws.

Forty-nine-year-old Hester has said that without her $13,000 death benefit her partner of six years, Stacie Andree, will be forced to sell the house they now share after her death.

The 4 - 0 vote, with one absentee, was greeted with applause from dozens of gays who packed the chamber.

Following the vote in a voice barely audible Hester thanked the freeholders saying it "was democracy at its best."