Andrea Gibson, the celebrated spoken word artist and trailblazing queer poet known for heartfelt explorations of identity, love, and mortality, has died at the age of 49.
A post shared on Gibson’s official Facebook page confirmed they passed away on July 14, “in their home surrounded by their wife, Meg, four ex-girlfriends, their mother and father, dozens of friends, and their three beloved dogs.”
Gibson was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2021, and spent their final years embracing life with courage, honesty, and gratitude.
“Since learning they had cancer in 2021, Andrea has been a champion of finding beauty in unlikely places and gratitude in the hardest hours,” the post read. “Over the last four years, they danced with their diagnosis and continually aimed their internal compass toward joy. One of the last things Andrea said on this plane was, ‘I f*cking loved my life.’”
The post also referenced one of Gibson’s more recent poems, Love Letter From the Afterlife, which captured their enduring presence:
“I am more here than I ever was before. I am more with you than I ever could have imagined.”
📚 A Life in Verse
Andrea Gibson burst onto the poetry scene in 2008 with their debut book Pole Dancing to Gospel Hymns, and went on to publish six additional poetry collections and release seven albums of spoken word work. Gibson’s deeply personal writing often tackled themes of gender identity, mental health, grief, and joy, earning them a passionate global following.
In 2017, Gibson penned an essay for Out, reflecting on their genderqueer identity:
“Growing up, I never felt like a boy or a girl… I am happiest on the road/ When I’m not here or there—but in-between/ The yellow line coming down the center of it all like a sunbeam. Because our culture is one of boxes and binaries—genderqueer is a constant coming out.”
🎥 Spotlight in Film
Gibson was the subject of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival favourite Come See Me in the Good Light, a documentary that captured their journey through cancer alongside their wife, writer Meg Falley. The film resonated deeply with audiences, earning the Festival Favourite award.
🏅 Legacy and Honours
In 2022, Gibson was named an Out100 honoree, and in 2023, Colorado Governor Jared Polis appointed them the state’s Poet Laureate.
“It is with a heavy heart that we mourn the loss of @andreagibson, an inspiring poet and Colorado’s current Poet Laureate,” Polis wrote on X. “Renowned for inspiring poetry, advocacy for arts in education, and a unique ability to connect with the vast and diverse poetry lovers of Colorado, Andrea was truly one of a kind… My thoughts go out to Andrea’s loved ones during this difficult time.”
Gibson once reflected on their evolving purpose amid their illness:
“As someone who had previously lived with a lot of fear, I never imagined I could grow and thrive during a cancer diagnosis — but my heart has never been so open… I have learned to live in the present.”
They added:
“Although I’ve identified with multiple purposes throughout my life and career, I’d say that what’s most potent to me now is to teach people how to cultivate inner joy and peace regardless of external circumstance… What kind of poet would I be if I could only make hard things beautiful on paper?”
🕊️ Andrea Gibson: A Lasting Voice
Andrea Gibson leaves behind a profound legacy — not just in poetry, but in how they lived, loved, and inspired others to show up fully as themselves. Their work will continue to resonate in classrooms, performance spaces, and the hearts of readers and listeners everywhere.
