Statement of Jocelyn Frye, President of the National Partnership for Women & Families

WASHINGTON, D.C. – October 15, 2024 – “All of us at the National Partnership for Women & Families were saddened to hear about the passing of Lilly Ledbetter. She was a true American heroine in every sense of the word and dedicated her life to fighting for equal pay and fairness for all workers. When Lilly learned that she was being paid less than her male counterparts at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, she knew that it wasn’t fair, and she gathered the courage to fight back. Her decision to stand up to Goodyear took her all the way to the Supreme Court. When a bitterly divided Supreme Court ruled against her, denying her the damages that she had been awarded at trial, she was undaunted. Even though she could no longer recoup the money she lost due to discrimination, she took her fight to the halls of the United States Congress so that others would not face the same barriers that she faced to combating discrimination. Her courage and determination eventually led to the passage of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, signed by President Obama, to help remove obstacles to challenging pay discrimination. While this was a huge step forward, Lilly also knew that there was still much work left to be done. She continued to be a powerful voice in the fight to strengthen equal pay laws at the national level and around the country.

I had the privilege of meeting Lilly and participating in panels and events with her. I was always struck by her kindness, graciousness, and humility combined with a fierce and unflinching commitment to fairness. Her courage and legacy will be remembered by all those who continue to fight for equality. My sincerest condolences to her family, and I am grateful that they shared her with us.”

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