Pop legend Lesley Gore dies aged 68

LESBIAN icon Lesley Gore died in Manhattan on Monday.

The singer, who is famous for hit songs It’s My Party and feminist anthem You Don’t Own Me, was born Lesley Sue Goldstein on May 2, 1946.

She died of lung cancer at New York Presbyterian hospital, according to her partner of 33 years, Lois Sasson. She was 68.

“She was a wonderful human being – caring, giving, a great feminist, great woman, great human being, great humanitarian,” Sasson, a jewellery designer, told The Associated Press.

Gore, who publicly came out in 2005, also hosted episodes of In the Life, a PBS newsmagazine series about lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans* people.

In 1996, Gore co-wrote a song titled My Secret Love, dictating her experience as a lesbian forced to play straight during the conservative time of her upbringing.

She is survived by her partner Sasson, her brother and her mother.