Who Was Andrea Gibson, The Queer Poet Laureate Whose Words Changed Lives?

Andrea Gibson, the celebrated American poet and spoken word performer known for their emotionally powerful work on gender identity, politics, love, and terminal illness, has died at the age of 49. Gibson, who identified as non-binary and used they/them pronouns, passed away on Monday at their home in Boulder, Colorado, surrounded by loved ones, including their wife Megan Falley, former partners, family, friends, and their three dogs.

Gibson’s death follows a four-year battle with terminal ovarian cancer, a journey that became central to their recent work and public life. Their story is the heart of the award-winning documentary 'Come See Me in the Good Light', which premiered at Sundance this year and is set to air on Apple TV+ later in 2025.

How Did Andrea Gibson Die?

Andrea Gibson was diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer in August 2021. Their treatment journey included a radical hysterectomy, chemotherapy, and other interventions. Despite periods of remission, Gibson publicly shared that the cancer had returned in early 2023. They also suffered from Chronic Lyme Disease (CLD), a controversial and often misunderstood condition, which added to their health challenges.

Their openness about illness, mortality, and healing—both physical and emotional—became integral to their poetry. In one of their last poems, “Love Letter from the Afterlife,” Gibson wrote: “Dying is the opposite of leaving… I am more here than I ever was before.”

Who Was Andrea Gibson?

Born in 1975 in Calais, Maine, Gibson moved to Boulder, Colorado, in 1999, where they found their voice as a performance poet. Their rise to prominence began in local open mic nights, eventually leading them to become a four-time Denver Grand Slam Champion and winner of the 2008 Women of the World Poetry Slam.

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Their poetry, spanning seven books and countless live performances, often tackled themes of queerness, mental health, war, love, and political resistance. Gibson was widely known in the LGBTQ+ community for offering a voice to those navigating gender and identity. They came out as genderqueer while studying at Saint Joseph’s College of Maine, a Catholic institution, and frequently wrote about the complexity of not identifying strictly as male or female.

A Voice For The Marginalized

Gibson’s influence went beyond poetry circles. Fans often described their work as life-saving. Many LGBTQ+ individuals credited Gibson’s poetry with helping them accept and celebrate their identities. Others facing terminal illness found solace in their poems about death and survival.

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In 2023, Gibson was appointed Colorado’s 10th Poet Laureate by Governor Jared Polis, who called them “truly one of a kind.” Their final years were marked by a raw vulnerability that only deepened their resonance with audiences. Their books—including You Better Be Lightning, Take Me With You, and Lord of the Butterflies—continue to inspire readers, while the documentary Come See Me in the Good Light immortalizes their journey of love, art, and mortality.