Andrea Gibson, Poet and Subject of Doc ‘Come See Me in the Good Light,’ Dies at 49

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Andrea Gibson, an acclaimed poet and performance artist known for delving into themes of gender identity, politics, and their four-year fight against terminal ovarian cancer, passed away on Monday at the age of 49.

I was deeply saddened to learn about the passing of my beloved, Gibson, through a post shared on social media by his wife, Megan Falley. Together with Megan, Gibson was the heart of the documentary titled “Come See Me in the Good Light“, which recently won the Festival Favorite Award at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and is set to premiere this fall on Apple TV+.

Andrea Gibson passed away at their residence in Boulder, Colorado, with their spouse Meg, four former partners, parents, numerous friends, and three cherished pets by their side,” the statement from Monday indicates in part.

The movie, which delves into the resilient love story of a couple facing cancer (specifically Gibson), is helmed by Ryan White and features an original composition penned by Gibson, Sara Bareilles, and Brandi Carlile. At its Sundance premiere in January, many spectators were moved to tears. Remarkably, during the screening, Gibson expressed surprise that he would live long enough to witness this documentary’s release.

Heartfelt tributes were shared on Monday, coming from friends, admirers, and fellow poets alike. They all echoed similar sentiments about how Gibson’s words had profoundly impacted their lives – in some instances even saving them. Members of the LGBTQ+ community expressed that Gibson’s poetry played a pivotal role in helping them embrace self-love. Individuals battling cancer and other life-threatening diseases spoke of Gibson as a source of comfort, helping them face death with less fear by reminding them that love transcends physical boundaries.

In a poem titled “Love Letter from the Afterlife,” penned just prior to their passing, Gibson expressed: “Departure is the reverse of goodbye. As I departed my physical form, I did not depart at all. That radiant gateway wasn’t a gateway to another place, but a gateway to this very spot. Here I am more than I’ve ever been before.

Back in the day, a decade ago, I, a gamer, found myself utterly spellbound when my son Aiden led me to witness Gibson’s performance at a San Francisco bar. Their poetry was nothing short of exhilarating, filling the room with infectious laughter, tears, and an overwhelming sense of love. Sharing this passion for Gibson’s work became a bond between us. Interestingly enough, it played a significant role in helping me grasp my son better when he bravely revealed his identity as transgender.

This morning, when my son phoned me, we both broke down in tears. He shared with me, “Mom, Andrea is the one who saved my life.” (Said Stay)

“I know,” she responded.

In time, Gibson’s poetry proved instrumental in helping Stay confront her own cancer diagnosis. This led to her son returning home to St. George, Utah, to assist with her care. Their joy knew no bounds when Gibson agreed to perform at an event honoring the LGBTQ+ community in southern Utah, a celebration for which they had extended the invitation.

For our community below, as well as for our allies, it was an incredibly transformative experience,” said Stay. “I can only hope they understood the immense influence they had on offering hope to queer children living in smaller communities.

Born in Maine, Gibson later relocated to Colorado in the late 1990s. For the previous two years, they had held the position of Colorado’s poet laureate. Among their published works are “You Better Be Lightning”, “Take Me With You”, and “Lord of the Butterflies”.

Or

Gibson, a native of Maine, shifted residence to Colorado in the late 1990s, having served as the state’s poet laureate for the past two years. Their literary portfolio includes titles such as “You Better Be Lightning”, “Take Me With You”, and “Lord of the Butterflies”.

Or

Hailing from Maine, Gibson moved to Colorado in the late 1990s after serving as the state’s poet laureate for a couple of years. Some of their notable books are “You Better Be Lightning”, “Take Me With You”, and “Lord of the Butterflies”.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis stated on Monday that Gibson was exceptional, boasting an extraordinary talent to resonate with Colorado’s wide array of poetry enthusiasts.

In an essay published in Out magazine in 2017, Gibson recounted their coming out experience at age 20 while pursuing creative writing studies at Saint Joseph’s College of Maine, a Catholic institution. As a genderqueer individual, they expressed not feeling like a boy or a girl, and referenced lines from their poetry to explain their feelings: “I am most content on the road / When I’m neither here nor there—but in-between.

Tig Notaro, a longtime friend and executive producer, shared on Instagram that she and Gibson, the documentary’s subject, rose to prominence as performers in Colorado. Hearing Gibson perform for the first time felt like seeing “the raw, authentic spirit of an old-school rock star,” and their words have been a guiding force in Notaro’s life ever since, she stated.

The last few days of Andrea’s life were incredibly tough to observe, yet they also stand as one of the most moving experiences we’ve ever had,” Notaro explained. “Being present amidst genuine human interactions, even in the most unexpected circumstances during such a tragic loss, has granted me a priceless gift that I can’t adequately express with words.

Gibson’s illness sparked numerous poems on themes of mortality, sadness, life, and the unknown. In his 2021 poem “How My Worst Day Turned into My Best,” Gibson expressed “When I understood that the storm was unavoidable, I transformed it into my remedy.” Later on, they pondered: “Will the afterlife be more challenging if I remember those I cherish, or if I forget them?”

“Will the afterlife be more difficult if I recall those I hold dear, or if I erase them from memory?

“Either way, please let me remember.”

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2025-07-15 05:24