Lilly Ledbetter, whose courageous battle for gender pay equity inspired the Fair Pay Act of 2009, has passed away at the age of 86. The news was confirmed by the team working on a film based on her remarkable life.
According to her family, Ledbetter succumbed to respiratory failure. Her legacy stems from a pivotal moment in the 1990s when, after nearly two decades at Goodyear, she discovered a significant wage gap between her salary and that of her male counterparts.
Her ensuing lawsuit against Goodyear in 1999 for gender discrimination led to a federal court victory in 2003, resulting in a $3.8 million award in backpay and damages. However, Goodyear's successful appeal overturned the decision.
The case reached the Supreme Court in 2007, where a 5-4 ruling stated Ledbetter should have filed suit within 180 days of the initial pay discrepancy, a requirement she had missed, leading to the dismissal of her case.
Following her retirement, Ledbetter became a prominent advocate for gender equity, a role that culminated in the signing of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act by President Barack Obama as his first bill in office.
Obama praised Ledbetter's unwavering commitment to justice and equality, highlighting her impact on future generations. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and various organizations also paid tribute to her relentless pursuit of pay equality.
Despite progress, the gender pay gap persists, with women earning 84 cents for every dollar a man makes, as reported by the National Committee on Pay Equity. This figure drops to 78 cents when factoring in part-time and non-year-round workers.
Ledbetter's legacy lives on in the ongoing fight for pay equality, as echoed by Rep. Chuy Garcia and advocates across the nation. Her story will be further immortalized in the upcoming film 'Lilly,' set to be released this year.
