1960s teen pop singer LESLEY GORE was born on this date (d: 2015). Known for her hit song “It’s My Party and I’ll Cry If I Want To” Gore came out as a Lesbian in 2005. She provided musical aid for the 1996 film “Grace of My Heart,” which featured a character (played by Bridget Fonda) whose struggles over her sexual orientation were similar to Gore’s.

Gore composed songs for the soundtrack of the 1980 film Fame, for which she received an Academy Award nomination for “Out Here on My Own”, written with her brother Michael. Beginning in 2004, Gore could be seen hosting the PBS television series, In the Life, which focused on LGBT issues. Gore lived with Lois Sasson, for more than twenty-three years.

She died on February 16, 2015 in New York City of lung cancer. Following her death Neil Sedaka commented that she was “a phenomenal talent” and “a great songwriter in her own right”.