Lilly Ledbetter, a pioneer in the fight for gender pay equity, passed away at the age of 86 on October 12, 2024. Ledbetter’s legacy began when she discovered that she was being paid less than her male colleagues at Goodyear, leading her to sue the company in 1999.
Although her case reached the Supreme Court and was ultimately unsuccessful, it spurred significant legislative change. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, signed by President Obama in 2009, made it easier for workers to sue for pay discrimination.
Despite her legal loss, Ledbetter continued to advocate for pay equity and became a symbol of the movement. She passed away peacefully surrounded by family, leaving behind a powerful legacy in the fight for equal pay. Her work is remembered as a significant step toward gender wage equity in the U.S..
