Wednesday, January 25, 2006

Change of Heart: A New Jersey police lieutenant who is a lesbian finally got approval from her town board to leave her pension to her life-partner. The cop, Laurel Hester, is dying of cancer and doesn't have long to live. But Republicans on the town board had refused to allow her to pass on her pension just as any other police officer could have to a spouse.

After months of pleading, and some regional and national attention, the conservatives on the board relented.

What I like about this story, besides the happy ending, is that as the public becomes more aware of discrimination against homosexuals, the more pressure the public puts on politicians to accommodate gays and lesbians. That means more media attention will eventually show the public that there is nothing to fear from same-sex marriage and domestic partner benefits.