National figures pay tribute to life of Alabama activist Lilly Ledbetter

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ( WIAT ) — People from across the political prism are paying tribute to an Alabama woman who was instrumental in fighting for better pay parity in the workplace.

Lilly Ledbetter, whose own experiences as a worker in Alabama who often made less than her male colleagues, died over the weekend following respiratory failure. She was 86 years old.

“Lilly Ledbetter never set out to be a trailblazer or a household name. She just wanted to be paid the same as a man for her hard work,” former President Barack Obama posted on X Sunday . “But this grandmother from Alabama kept on fighting until the day I signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act into law – my first as president.”

Ledbetter was instrumental in getting people behind her to promote better pay between men and women, culminating in the passage of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 that set better timelines for the statute of limitations regarding pay.

Here is what other people are saying about Ledbetter:

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

“Lilly Ledbetter believed she should be paid the same wage as a man for doing the same work, and she was willing to advocate for basic fairness for everyone. With her words and deeds, she changed the country for the better.”

Alabama Rep. Terry Sewell

“Lilly Ledbetter was an extraordinary Alabamian whose bold fight for equal pay benefitted woman all across America and brought our nation closer to its highest ideals. I’m sending my condolences to her family. RIP.”

Tennis player Billie Jean King

“Saddened to hear equality champion Lilly Ledbetter passed away over the weekend. As a result of her lawsuit against her employer, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act was signed into law 15 years ago, making it easier for women to fight for fair wages.”

There is currently a movie set for release about Ledbetter and her case starring Patricia Clarkson called “Lilly.” No release date has been set for the film.

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