Mary Elizabeth "Tipper" Gore (née Aitcheson; born August 19, 1948) is an American author, photographer, and social issues advocate who was Second Lady of the United States from 1993 to 2001, and the wife of Al Gore, the 45th Vice President of the United States, from whom she is currently separated.
Gore rose to prominence for her work with the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC), voicing strong opinions and advocating the labeling of record covers of releases featuring profane language, especially in the heavy metal, punk and hip hop genres. She has advocated for mental health, homelessness, women and children. Gore has also been an LGBT rights activist since her husband was in office.
Born Mary Elizabeth Aitcheson in Washington, D.C., Tipper Gore is the daughter of John Kenneth "Jack" Aitcheson, Jr., a plumbing-supply entrepreneur and owner of J & H Aitcheson Plumbing Supply, and his first wife, Margaret Ann (née Carlson) Odom (who lost her first husband during World War II). She was given the nickname "Tipper" by her mother, from a lullaby her mother had heard. Gore grew up in Arlington, Virginia. Her mother and grandmother raised her after her parents divorced.