Andrea Gibson, Award-Winning Poet and Colorado’s Poet Laureate, Dies at 49 After Courageous Battle with Cancer
BOULDER, COLORADO — July 15, 2025 — Andrea Gibson, the groundbreaking spoken word poet, activist, and Colorado’s current Poet Laureate, died early Sunday morning at the age of 49 after a brave and publicly shared battle with ovarian cancer. They passed peacefully at 4:16 a.m., surrounded by loved ones — their wife Meg, both parents, four former partners, many close friends, and their three cherished dogs — in the comfort of their home.
Gibson, whose 50th birthday would have been celebrated on August 13, leaves behind a towering legacy of literary brilliance, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and radical emotional honesty. Their death marks the end of a life that burned brightly with truth, creativity, and compassionate activism — and their absence is already deeply felt across the artistic and queer communities worldwide.
A Voice That Could Not Be Silenced
Andrea Gibson was widely regarded as one of the most influential spoken word poets of their generation. Their emotionally raw and politically charged poetry explored identity, queerness, illness, mental health, and love — all delivered with stunning lyrical clarity and fearlessness. Their work resonated deeply with marginalized communities and often served as a lifeline for those navigating trauma and self-discovery.
Their live performances — passionate, electrifying, and deeply personal — captivated audiences across the globe. Gibson authored seven critically acclaimed books, including Lord of the Butterflies, You Better Be Lightning, and Pole Dancing to Gospel Hymns, and was the subject of the award-winning 2023 documentary Come See Me in the Good Light.
Appointed Poet Laureate of Colorado in 2024, Gibson used the platform not only to promote poetry but to elevate often-overlooked voices and ignite conversations around justice, healing, and authenticity.
Living and Dying With Grace
Diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2021, Gibson approached their illness with the same openness and intensity they brought to the stage. They documented their journey through poetry, videos, and social media posts, encouraging their audience to embrace life fully — even in suffering.
Rather than shy away from discussions of mortality, they leaned into them, framing death not as defeat but as transformation. “Whenever I leave this world, whether it’s sixty years from now, I wouldn’t want anyone to say I lost some battle. I’ll be a winner that day,” Gibson once said. On July 14, with the people they loved gathered around them, they became that winner.
One of their last words before passing was:
“I fucking loved my life.”
A Legacy Beyond the Page
Born in Calais, Maine, on August 13, 1975, Gibson first rose to prominence through national poetry slams and quickly became a leader in the spoken word scene. They inspired countless emerging poets not only with their talent but with their unwavering belief in the power of truth-telling.
Their poems — often shared by LGBTQ+ youth, educators, activists, and grief communities — tackled life’s hardest subjects without flinching. Their writing and performances reminded people that poetry is not just art — it’s a way of surviving and loving better.
In their poem Love Letter From the Afterlife, Gibson wrote:
“I am more here than I ever was before.
I am more with you than I ever could have imagined.”
Their words now offer comfort in their absence.
Remembering a Heart Full of Love
Andrea often said they hoped to die with a heart “covered in stretch marks” — a metaphor for a life stretched wide by love, heartbreak, and all that comes with being deeply human. Friends and loved ones say that wish came true.
Their wife Meg, and close friend Heather, who helped share the news of their passing, say they plan to continue telling Andrea’s story — not as a goodbye, but as a continuation. “There’s no way to capture someone like Andrea in a single obituary,” they wrote. “So we’ll keep writing. We’ll keep them alive in every way we can.”
Andrea Gibson
August 13, 1975 – July 14, 2025
Poet. Truth-teller. Healer. Legend.
“I fucking loved my life.”