MOUNT LAUREL, N.J.—A film about a dying New Jersey lesbian police officer’s struggle for benefits for her partner was nominated Jan. 22 for an Academy Award.

“Freeheld: The Laurel Hester Story” is up in the best documentary short subject category.

While that category isn’t one of the higher-profile ones, getting the nomination was a goal for Hester, who died of lung cancer nearly two years ago.

Hester’s story became a major cause for gay rights activists in New Jersey in 2005. Though the state at the time was one of a handful to offer domestic partnerships for gay couples, county governments did not have to offer benefits to the partners of their gay employees.

Hester, a detective with the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, was trying to make sure that Ocean County would give her partner, Stacie Andree, a $13,000 death benefit when Hester died.

Before Hester died, the county’s governing body—the Board of Chosen Freeholders—agreed to extend the benefits.

New York-based filmmaker Cynthia Wade has said that she promised Hester she would submit the 38-minute film to the Academy as a way to raise awareness of gay rights issues.

The filmmaker said it was important for her to adhere to Hester’s wishes and pursue the nomination.

“Even in the midst of fighting both cancer and the discrimination that she was facing, she understood that her personal story could make a difference for many same-sex couples around the country,” Wade said.