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Andrea Gibson, Colorado’s Non-Binary Poet Laureate, Dies at 49

Their July 14 passing from ovarian cancer has prompted tributes that underscore the enduring influence of their work.

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Colorado poet Andrea Gibson passed away at the age of 49.
Andrea Gibson, Colorado’s ninth poet laureate, right, reads aloud one of two poems during a small gathering in their honor on the terrace at Chautauqua Auditorium in Boulder on Sept. 6, 2023. Gibson — a queer activist, author and four-time Denver Grand Slam poetry champion — writes about the LGBTQ community, spirituality, feminism, mental health and gun reform, among other topics. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

Overview

  • Andrea Gibson died at home in Boulder on July 14, surrounded by loved ones including their wife, four ex-girlfriends, family members and their dogs.
  • They had been battling ovarian cancer since an August 2021 diagnosis that led to surgery and chemotherapy.
  • Governor Jared Polis appointed Gibson as Colorado’s tenth state poet laureate in September 2023, the first non-binary person to hold the role.
  • Gibson rose to prominence as a spoken-word artist with four Denver Grand Slam championships, a 2008 Women of the World Poetry Slam title and seven published collections plus a memoir.
  • Tributes from Governor Polis, Arianna Huffington, fellow poets and fans have highlighted their advocacy for LGBTQ rights and arts education.