President Barack Obama Signs Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 Into Law

Photo: Ledbetter, behind President Obama, looks on as

he signs the law. Photo taken by Jason Reed of Reuters.

I don't think Lilly Ledbetter ever thought she would go down in history as a pioneer. Much like Rosa Parks, Johnnie Carr, Madame C. J. Walker, and so many other great women. Today, President Barack Obama signed into law the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009.

Before putting his pen to the paper, Obama said: "Lilly Ledbetter did not set out to be a trailblazer or a household name. She was just a good hard worker who did her job -- and she did it well -- for nearly two decades before discovering that for years, she was paid less than her male colleagues for doing the very same work. Over the course of her career, she lost more than $200,000 in salary, and even more in pension and Social Security benefits -- losses that she still feels today.

"Now, Lilly could have accepted her lot and moved on. She could have decided that it wasn't worth the hassle and the harassment that would inevitably come with speaking up for what she deserved. But instead, she decided that there was a principle at stake, something worth fighting for. So she set out on a journey that would take more than 10 years, take her all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States, and lead to this day and this bill which will help others get the justice she was denied. ...

"I intend to send a clear message: That making our economy work means making sure it works for everyone. That there are no second class citizens in our workplaces, and that it's not just unfair and illegal -- it's bad for business -- to pay someone less because of their gender, or their age, race, ethnicity, religion or disability." Source: USA Today

This is a great moment for true equality for women in the workplace. I would venture to say that every woman out there can identify with Lilly Ledbetter. This law was long overdue and I salute President Obama for his actions today. Women are not second class citizens. We are much more than we get credit for. As a woman, a mother and a wife, I am immensely grateful that this has been signed into law.