Andrea Gibson, a renowned poet and performance artist, has died at 49 years old. Their songs were a powerful exploration of gender identity, politics and personal struggle. The announcement of Gibson’s death came on social media from their spouse, Megan Falley. Gibson’s contributions to the literary and LGBTQIA+ communities will surely have a lasting legacy.
Gibson’s birth state and early youth were in Maine. In the late 1990s, they moved to Colorado, where they soon established themselves as one of the leading lights of Colorado’s poetry scene. As poet laureate, Gibson has had a robust two-year tenure (and then some). Collectively, this role showcases their immense impact and relentless commitment to pushing poetry’s possibilities. Colorado Governor Jared Polis acknowledged Gibson’s rare gift. He noted the way she engages a broad and varied group of poetry enthusiasts from every corner of the state.
As a performer, Gibson’s work would embark on the intersections of identity and emotional endurance. Their four-year battle with terminal ovarian cancer informed much of their recent poetry, offering insight into both personal pain and broader societal issues. “When I realized the storm was inevitable, I made it my medicine,” Gibson once expressed, showcasing their remarkable ability to transform struggle into art.
During his long and productive career, Gibson wrote many devoted thought-provoking, influential works. These include You Better Be Lightning, Take Me With You, and Lord of the Butterflies. These books struck a chord within the LGBTQ+ community and beyond, allowing people to find and accept themselves and each other. Linda Williams Stay is unabashedly enthusiastic about Gibson’s poetry. It helped her process her own comfort when diagnosed with cancer and to seek support in the form of the queer community when her son came out as transgender. “Mom, Andrea saved my life,” Aiden, Stay’s son, remembered during a contemplative piece on Gibson’s impact.
Gibson collaborated with artists Sara Bareilles and Brandi Carlile to co-write an original song featured in a documentary coming out this spring. Their artist versatility really shines in this collaboration. Their poetry provoked thousands to join the struggle. Even comedian Tig Notaro credited Gibson’s work to serve as a guiding light and a source of inspiration and affirmation throughout Notaro’s life.
Her absence has left a void that has been felt across the arts community. In a statement, Governor Polis noted Gibson’s unique talent, calling them “truly one of a kind.” In doing so, he praised their work for creating a sense of unity between Colorado’s poetry enthusiasts.
Beyond their literary legacy, Gibson’s meditations on death deeply echo with their loved ones who walked alongside their journey. They once mused, “Dying is the opposite of leaving. When I left my body, I did not go away. That portal of light was not a portal to elsewhere, but a portal to here. I am more here than I ever was before.” Gibson’s novel plunges us right into the waters of life and loss. Beyond just an adventure story, though, it’s a moving reflection on what connection and belonging mean.