Jacksonville, AL – On Thursday, April 17, the Jacksonville State University College of Arts, Humanities, and Sciences will present an exclusive pre-release screening of Lilly, a compelling new film that tells the true story of Jacksonville native and equal pay trailblazer Lilly Ledbetter. The screening will take place at 6:30 p.m. in the Stone Center Theatre and is free and open to the public as part of Jax State’s Kaleidoscope series. Seating is limited and registration is encouraged.
Portrayed by Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe winner Patricia Clarkson, Lilly chronicles the life of Lilly Ledbetter, from her humble beginnings in Possum Trot, Alabama, to her pivotal role in the national fight for workplace equality. The film is set to premiere nationwide on May 9.
Ledbetter’s journey began in Jacksonville, where she was born in 1938 and later graduated from Jacksonville High School in 1956. Her early career included roles in accounting and financial aid, including a position as Assistant Director of Financial Aid at Jacksonville State University. In 1979, she made history as one of the first women hired in a management position at the Goodyear tire plant in Gadsden.
Though she excelled in her role, Ledbetter endured years of discrimination and harassment. Nearly two decades into her career, an anonymous note revealed she had been paid significantly less than her male colleagues. Her pursuit of justice led her through a grueling legal battle, which ultimately reached the U.S. Supreme Court. While the Court ruled against her due to a filing technicality, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s dissent became a rallying cry.
Ledbetter’s courage and persistence inspired legislative change. In 2009, President Barack Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act—his first act as president—ensuring more protection for workers facing pay discrimination.
Following the screening, a panel discussion will be moderated by Dr. Staci Stone, Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Sciences. The panel will feature Rachel Feldman, the film’s writer, director, and producer; Vickie Saxon, Lilly Ledbetter’s daughter; and journalist Lanier Scott Isom, co-author of Grace and Grit, Ledbetter’s memoir.
Supported by the Alabama State Council on the Arts, the evening is a tribute to a local hero whose impact has been felt across the country.
To reserve a seat, attendees can register at https://give.jsu.edu/e/special-screening-of-lilly.
