Obituary – In Loving Memory of Andrea Gibson (August 13, 1975 – July 14, 2025)
It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of Andrea Gibson, an acclaimed poet, performer, and activist. Andrea passed away peacefully on July 14, 2025, in Boulder, Colorado, following a courageous battle with ovarian cancer Home+15Point of Relation Podcast+15Sounds True+15The Poetry Foundation.
🌟 A Voice for Change & Connection
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Poet Laureate: Andrea served as Colorado’s poet laureate (2023–2025), becoming the first non-binary individual to hold the role Wikipedia+3Southwest Contemporary+3Reddit+3.
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Award-Winning Work: A four-time Denver Grand Slam Champion and the inaugural winner of the Women of the World Poetry Slam in 2008 Southwest Contemporary+2The Poetry Foundation+2Wikipedia+2.
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Published & Performed: Author of numerous poetry collections including You Better Be Lightning, Lord of the Butterflies, Pansy, The Madness Vase, and Pole Dancing to Gospel Hymns telluridenews.com+3The Poetry Foundation+3Wikipedia+3.
🧬 Art Amid Adversity
Despite a diagnosis of stage-4 ovarian cancer in August 2021, Andrea continued to create, share, and perform. Their journey through illness and treatment—chemotherapy, radical surgery, and personal reckonings—became powerful sources of inspiration, transforming their art into a testament of resilience, gratitude, and wonder Reddit+12Point of Relation Podcast+12Amazon Music+12.
Notably, their poem “In the chemo room…” poignantly reminds us:
“Wasn’t it death that taught me to stop measuring my lifespan by length, but by width?” Reddit+4Home+4Home+4.
Additionally, the documentary Come See Me in the Good Light offered an intimate look at Andrea’s life with cancer and won a Sundance Film Festival award in 2025 Wikipedia+2Salon.com+2Helm+2.
💖 Champion of Queer & Social Justice
Openly non-binary, Andrea used poetry to explore gender identity, mental health, queerness, and social justice. Their activism and advocacy resonated widely, elevating countless voices and fostering deep connections among marginalized communities Wikipedia.
📅 Celebration of Life
Details of Andrea’s memorial service are forthcoming and will honor their profound impact on poetry, advocacy, and the lives they touched. Family, friends, colleagues, and all whose lives were changed by Andrea’s work are invited to join in remembrance.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to:
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Ovarian cancer research and support organizations
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LGBTQ+ advocacy groups
🎙️ Legacy Through Words
Andrea Gibson’s legacy will live on through their poetry, performances, recordings, and the countless souls they uplifted. Their bravery in facing illness and their dedication to art and justice remain a guiding light for us all.
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