Andrea Gibson passed away on Monday at the age of 49, leaving behind a legacy of poetry that navigated their four-year journey with gender identity, societal issues, and terminal ovarian cancer.
The announcement of Gibson’s death came from their wife, Megan Falley. The couple is prominently featured in the documentary “Come See See in The Good Light,” which not only received the Festival Favorite Award at the Sundance Film Festival this year but is also set to premiere on Apple TV+ this fall.
According to the announcement, “Andrea Gibson passed away at home in Boulder, Colorado, surrounded by Meg, four ex-girlfriends, parents, numerous friends, and three cherished dogs.”
The film delves into Gibson’s steadfast love amidst their battle with cancer, featuring original songs directed by Ryan White and co-written with Gibson, Sarah Baril, and Brandi Khalil. During a January screening at Sundance, many audience members were visibly moved, while Gibson expressed doubt about living long enough to see the documentary completed.
On Monday, tributes poured in from friends, fans, and fellow poets, many of whom shared how Gibson’s words had profoundly impacted their lives. Particularly within the LGBTQ+ community, fans remarked that Gibson’s poetry was instrumental in fostering self-acceptance.
Individuals facing cancer and other terminal conditions expressed that Gibson helped diminish their fear of death, reminding them that love endures.
In a poem written shortly before their death, titled “Love Letter from the Afterlife,” Gibson reflected, “Dieting is the opposite of leaving. When I left, I didn’t leave.”
Linda Williams recounted an “awesome” experience from ten years ago when her son Aiden took her to see Gibson perform in a San Francisco bar. Their poetry filled the space with laughter, tears, and love, creating a bond between mothers and sons, especially as they navigated their sons’ journeys with gender identity.
In a conversation with her son on the morning of Gibson’s passing, she shared, “We just sobbed together. He says, ‘Mom, Andrea saved my life.'” Her reply was a simple, heartfelt acknowledgment.
Gibson’s poetry also helped Williams during her own cancer diagnosis, which led to her son returning home to care for her. They were thrilled when Gibson accepted an invitation to perform at an LGBTQ+ celebration in southern Utah.
Williams mentioned that Gibson’s presence was transformative for their community and allies, hoping that others would see the profound impact Gibson had on many in a small, hopeful community.
Originally from Maine, Gibson moved to Colorado in the late 1990s and was honored as the state’s Poet Award recipient for the last two years. Their body of work includes titles like “You Have Lightning,” “Take Me with You,” and “The Lord of Butterflies.”
In a statement on Monday, Colorado Governor Jared Polis described Gibson as “a truly kind soul” with a remarkable ability to connect with the diverse audience of poetry lovers in Colorado.
Reflecting on their journey, Gibson had once shared in a 2017 Out Magazine essay about coming out at 20 while studying creative writing at St. Joseph’s College of Maine. Identifying as genderqueer, Gibson conveyed feelings of not fitting neatly into traditional gender categories.
Tig Notaro, an executive producer of the documentary and a longtime friend of Gibson, expressed how their initial performance was akin to witnessing the “pure essence of an old-fashioned, authentic rock star,” and their words have inspired Notaro ever since.
Notaro also mentioned the deep pain experienced during the last days of Gibson’s life, citing it as one of the most beautiful and profound experiences, highlighting the real connections formed amidst devastating loss.
The themes of mortality, depression, and life permeated much of Gibson’s work, with earlier poems reflecting on tough experiences. In a 2021 piece titled “How the Worst Days of My Life Became My Best,” Gibson wrote, “When I realized the storm, I made it/my medicine.” Two years later, they pondered what would happen to love and memory in the afterlife.
“Remember either way.”
