Lilly Ledbetter, a prominent women's rights activist known for her advocacy for equal pay, passed away on Saturday (October 12) night due to respiratory failure. She was 86. The news was confirmed by a family representative who stated that Ledbetter was surrounded by her family and loved ones in Alabama, her birthplace and home.
“Lilly Ledbetter passed away peacefully last night at the age of 86. She was surrounded by her family and loved ones. Our mother lived an extraordinary life,” her family said in a statement.
Ledbetter's fight for equal pay began in the 1990s when she discovered she was being paid significantly less than her male colleagues at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company in Gadsden, Alabama. Despite having similar or more experience and seniority, Ledbetter was earning less due to her gender. This revelation led to years of legal battles that reached the Supreme Court. Although Ledbetter lost her lawsuit against Goodyear, her case inspired the creation of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.
The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which eases the statute of limitations for filing pay discrimination claims, was the first bill signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2009. In a statement released on Sunday, the former president and first lady Michelle Obama expressed their gratitude for Ledbetter's advocacy and friendship.
Just last week, Ledbetter was awarded Advertising Week's first-ever Future Is Female Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing her as a trailblazer for women. A film about her life, titled "Lilly" and starring Patricia Clarkson, recently premiered at the Hamptons International Film Festival.