Lilly McDaniel Ledbetter (April 14, 1938 – October 12, 2024) 

As we bid farewell to our sister, Lilly Ledbetter, let us carry forward her love and her commitment to employment discrimination. Though she may no longer be with us in body, her spirit will forever echo in our hearts, reminding us to cherish each moment and hold tight to the promise of America that all people are created equal and deserve equal pay.

Lilly was the plaintiff in the United States Supreme Court case, Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company.  The Supreme Court did not consider the issue of whether a plaintiff's late discovery of a discriminatory action would excuse a failure to file within the 180-day period because her attorneys conceded it would have made no difference in her case. However, in response, Congress later passed legislation, called the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, that restarted the 180-day clock every time a discriminatory paycheck was received. Thank you, Lilly!

On April 8, 2025, National Equal Pay Day, CLUW will join with millions of activists around the country to envision and demand an end to pay discrimination and in memory of the life and work of Lilly Ledbetter.

Lilly Ledbetter and CLUW National President Elise Bryant