Synopsis
Freeheld tells the story of fearless Police Detective Laurel Hester, working to bust New Jersey drug dealers with her long-term partner and mentor, Detective Dane Wells. Though close, Lauren has never told Dane that she is attracted to women and Dane nurses a long-held crush on her. Their friendship is tested when Laurel falls in love with a younger, openly gay, car mechanic, Stacie Andree, who urges Laurel to be open about their relationship. Laurel finds the domestic happiness she's long sought with Stacie and they buy a house together. When Laurel is diagnosed with a terminal illness, she risks coming out of the closet to ask the county commissioners (Freeholders) to grant her police pension to Stacie when she dies (as would happen automatically for a married couple), so Stacie can afford to stay in their home. The Freeholders refuse Laurel's request, citing religious and budgetary reasons. Conservative Dane overcomes his own prejudices to lead the fight to reverse the decision and rallies his fellow policemen to Laurel's cause. Stacie devotes every waking moment to saving Laurel's life. The case draws the attention of a larger-than-life, gay, political activist, Steven Goldstein, who competes with Dane to lead the struggle, racing against the clock to right this injustice while Laurel is still alive.
Freeheld, based on Cynthia Wade's 2008 Academy Award winning documentary short, is a moving and inspirational story in the tradition of ERIN BROCKOVICH, SILKWOOD, and PHILADELPHIA, about the courage people can find in the most difficult of circumstances and the transformative power of love.