Grace and Grit: Lilly Ledbetter to Speak, Sign Memoir at March 16 Event

02/20/2015


Lilly Ledbetter (courtesy)

Lilly Ledbetter, whose fight for equal pay and women’s rights went all the way to the Supreme Court and resulted in the Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act, will speak and sign her book “Grace and Grit: My Fight for Equal Pay and Fairness at Goodyear and Beyond,” at Jacksonville State University's Houston Cole Library on Monday, March 16 at 7 p.m.

Ms. Ledbetter, a Calhoun County native, filed a sex discrimination suit against her employer, Goodyear, when an anonymous note revealed that she was making thousands less per year than men in her position. She won her case, but lost on appeal. Over the next eight years, the case made its way to the Supreme Court, where the court ruled that she should have filed suit within 180 days of her first unequal paycheck, even though Ledbetter contested she had no way of knowing that she was being paid unfairly at the time. Undaunted by her loss, Ledbetter continued to champion equality and advocate for change. The piece of legislation bearing her name was the first signed by President Barack Obama after he took office. 

graceandgrit

The public is invited to attend the free event, which is sponsored by the Friends of the Houston Cole Library. Free refreshments will be served and books will be available for purchase and signing.

Learn More About "Grace and Grit: My Fight for Equal Pay and Fairness at Goodyear and Beyond"