Latest news with #YouBetterBeLightning
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
Late poet Andrea Gibson's life, love story featured in upcoming documentary
The late poet Andrea Gibson is the focus of the highly anticipated documentary "Come See Me in the Good Light." Gibson, who died Monday at the age of 49, a month shy of their 50th birthday, stars in the film alongside their wife Megan Falley, as they navigate Gibson's terminal ovarian cancer diagnosis. The late wordsmith, the poet laureate of Colorado, was known for their live performances and poetry that centered feminism, LGBTQ+ issues, mental health, gun reform, spirituality and more. During their lifetime, Gibson authored six poetry collections, including "Take Me With You," "Lord of the Butterflies" and "You Better Be Lightning." Their 2019 collaboration with Falley, "How Poetry Can Change Your Heart," was their first nonfiction book. Below, read more about Gibson's upcoming documentary. What is 'Come See Me in the Good Light' about? "Come See Me in the Good Light," directed by Ryan White and produced by comedian and writer Tig Notaro, Jessica Hargrave, and Stef Willen, features the personal story of Gibson and Falley as they embark on "an unexpectedly funny and poignant journey through love, life, and mortality," as described in the 2025 Sundance Film Festival's program. Author Glennon Doyle, retired soccer star Abby Wambach, singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles, comedian and actor Kevin Nealon, author Galia Gichon and singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile are among the executive producers for the project. The documentary premiered at Sundance in January, where it won the Festival Favorite Award. "We love Andrea Gibson and Megan Falley. They're just the best people. Their story needs to be seen, needed to be told and I just feel so grateful that we got to be a part of it," Wambach told "On The Red Carpet" in January. "This film is so stunningly beautiful," Bareilles said separately. "And I think the message of the film and the hope that is embedded in it will be such incredible medicine for everyone who gets to see this film." In a December 2024 Instagram post, Gibson wrote about being approached for the documentary and revealed they said "yes" to the project quickly. "From early on in my diagnosis, my deepest wish has been to turn the experience into something that could help others," Gibson wrote in the caption at the time. "Being a public writer is vulnerable," they added. "Inviting strangers into your life -- every three weeks for several days at a time -- during the rawest, period imaginable is vulnerability on an entirely different level. But it took only one day with this incredible team to realize that filming this doc would become the most profoundly loving artistic experience of my life." How to watch 'Come See Me in the Good Light'
Hindustan Times
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Andrea Gibson's lasting impact: How their poetry transformed the LGBTQ+ movement
A trailblazing voice in modern poetry, Andrea Gibson passed away at 49 in their Boulder, Colorado home due to ovarian cancer, reports CBC. Known for blending raw emotion with activism, Gibson gave voice to the often-unspoken: gender, illness, heartbreak, healing, always with a truth that left a lasting impression. Their work wasn't just art; it was a lifeline for many who finally felt seen. Gibson identified as non-binary, used they/them pronouns and spent their life pushing language to hold more love, more honesty. They leave behind their wife, poet Megan Falley, former partners, family, close friends and their beloved dogs. Here's how their work transformed the LGBTQ+ movement. It was in 2023 that Andrea Gibson was named Colorado's Poet Laureate(andreagibson/Instagram) A poet of fierce truth For the unaware, Gibson's work was never passive. For over two decades, they captured what it meant to live with courage and tenderness, writing about queerness, grief, gender and love with unflinching truth. Their words were a remedy for those in need. Books like You Better Be Lightning, The Madness Vase and Lord of the Butterflies became lifelines for many LGBTQ+ individuals. ALSO READ: Andrea Gibson cause of death: Popular Colorado poet dies at 49, tributes pour in How Andrea Gibson brought change Reportedly, apart from poetry, Gibson performed for nearly a decade with Vox Feminista, a radical feminist performance collective driven by cultural change. Their words were bold, but their actions spoke louder – they were also part of LGBTQ+ groups and events like Take Back the Night. In 2013, Gibson and Kelsey Gibb launched Stay Here With Me, an online safe space offering communal care for those fighting to make it through one more day. Recognition – a voice for the marginalized It was in 2023 that Andrea Gibson was named Colorado's Poet Laureate, a powerful recognition of their lifelong work blending activism and poetry to transform culture, reports The Daily Jagran. FYI, born in 1975 in Calais, Maine, Andrea found their voice after moving to Boulder in 1999. From open mics to national slam stages, they earned acclaim and community. ALSO READ: Guru Dutt's tragic affair with life, and Bollywood FAQs What happened to Andrea Gibson? Andrea Gibson died on July 14, 2025, after a four-year battle with ovarian cancer. What pronouns does Andrea Gibson use? Gibson identified as non-binary and used they/them pronouns. Where can I watch the Andrea Gibson movie? Their documentary, Come See Me in the Good Light, will stream on Apple TV+ this fall. What kind of cancer did Andrea Gibson have? They were diagnosed in August 2021 with advanced ovarian cancer, which later returned in 2023.
Indian Express
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Colorado's poet laureate Andrea Gibson dies at 49, leaves ‘Love Letter from the Afterlife'
Andrea Gibson, award-winning poet, activist, and Colorado's Poet Laureate, died on July 14, 2025, at the age of 49. They passed peacefully at home in Boulder, Colorado, surrounded by their wife Meg, family, close friends, and their three beloved dogs. In the months leading up to their death, Gibson, who was diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer in 2021, had been writing about mortality, joy, and the intimacy of impermanence. 'Since learning they had cancer in 2021, Andrea has been a champion of finding beauty in unlikely places and gratitude in the hardest hours. Over the last four years, they danced with their diagnosis, and continually aimed their internal compass toward joy,' their wife Meg wrote on Facebook. But perhaps no piece encapsulates their spirit more than the piece they published on their Substack in December 2023, titled 'Love Letter from the Afterlife.' Written during the holiday season for those grappling with loss, the poem has become, since the announcement of Gibson's death, a spiritual farewell to readers, listeners, and loved ones alike. 'Dying is the opposite of leaving,' the piece begins, reimagining death not as absence, but as presence magnified. Originally inspired by a message from their late grandmother, who told Gibson, 'I am more here than I ever was before,' the poem carries the voice of someone who has passed but remains deeply intertwined with the lives of those they love. 'Ask me the altitude of heaven, and I will answer, 'How tall are you?'' With lines that speak of forgiveness, enduring affection, and grief transformed into grace, the piece has resonated deeply with readers around the world. 'I want to echo it through the corridor of your temples, I am more with you than I ever was before,' they write. Gibson describes death as a kind of reincarnation in the hearts of the living. 'I know it's hard to believe, but I promise it's the truth. I promise one day you will say it too— I can't believe I ever thought I could lose you.' Andrea Gibson was one of the most influential spoken word poets of their generation. Born in Calais, Maine, in 1975, they rose to national recognition through their raw, emotionally vulnerable performances and writing that tackled gender identity, queerness, mental health, love, and mortality. In 2023, Gibson was named Poet Laureate of Colorado, where they had lived since the late 1990s. They authored seven poetry collections, including You Better Be Lightning and Lord of the Butterflies, and toured internationally to packed audiences. They were also the subject of the award-winning documentary Come See Me in the Good Light, which follows Gibson and their wife Meg as they navigate love, art, and terminal illness. The film premiered at Sundance to critical acclaim and is set to air on Apple TV+ later this year. Gibson had a rare ability to connect deeply with people across backgrounds and identities. Their poetry helped LGBTQ+ youth, gave voice to those navigating grief, and offered comfort to the terminally ill. In the final years of their life, they became a beacon for how to live with joy even in the shadow of death. Their final Facebook post, which was put up by their wife after Gibson passed away, reads: 'Whenever I leave this world, whether it's sixty years from now, I wouldn't want anyone to say I lost some battle. I'll be a winner that day.' On July 14, at 4:16 am, Andrea Gibson was a winner. Though they deeply wished for more time, those close to Gibson say they found peace and presence in their final days. They lived fully until the end, writing, laughing, creating, and surrounding themselves with chosen family. In their final letter to the world, Andrea Gibson assures us that love, once given, never leaves. The poem now stands as both a farewell and a promise: that the people we lose remain with us, folded into every breath, every sunrise, every poem.
USA Today
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Andrea Gibson, featured in award-winning documentary, dies at 49 after cancer battle
Andrea Gibson, an author, performer and activist known for their spoken word poetry, died July 14 after a four-year battle with ovarian cancer. They were 49. Gibson died early July 14 at their home in Boulder, Colorado, "surrounded by their wife, Meg, four ex-girlfriends, their mother and father, dozens of friends, and their three beloved dogs," an announcement on Gibson's social media said. "Though Andrea desperately wished to have lived a longer life, they could not have possibly lived a fuller one," the announcement said. Gibson was the author of seven poetry books and one of the subjects of the documentary "Come See Me in the Good Light," which won the Festival Favorite Award at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Known for using their poetry for social commentary and LGBTQ activism, Gibson was also Colorado's poet laureate. Who was Andrea Gibson? About their poetry career Andrea Gibson was a poet and writer born on August 13, 1975, in Calais, Maine, according to their Academy of American Poets bio. They lived in Longmont, Colorado, at the time of their death on July 14. Gibson authored seven poetry books, including "You Better Be Lightning," "Lord of the Butterflies," "Take Me With You," "Pansy," "The Madness Vase" and "Pole Dancing to Gospel Hymns." With their wife, Megan Falley, they also published the prose book "How Poetry Can Change Your Heart." They were a two-time winner of the Independent Publisher's Award — which honors independently published works — and a three-time Goodreads Choice Awards finalist. Gibson was also a four-time Denver Grand Slam Champion and the first winner of the Women of the World Poetry Slam in 2008. In 2023, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis named Gibson the state's ninth poet laureate, a two year post intended to promote an appreciation of poetry, according to a release. Gibson stars in award-winning documentary 'Come See Me in the Good Light' Gibson and their wife, Megan Falley, are the subjects of the 2025 documentary "Come See Me in the Good Light." The film, which is directed by Ryan White, follows Gibson and Falley as they face the former's incurable cancer diagnosis, according to a release from Apple TV+. Its executive producers include a slew of big names including Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach, Tig Notaro and more. 'Come See Me in the Good Light" premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, where it earned the Festival Favorite Award. The film also won the Audience Award at the Boulder International Film Festival, Cleveland International Film Festival and Full Frame Documentary Film Festival. It will debut on Apple TV+ this fall. The Sundance Film Festival said it was "deeply saddened" by Gibson's death in a tribute on Instagram. "With Megan's unwavering love beside them, Andrea's story stands as a profound testament to the enduring power of love, art, and resilience," the tribute said. "Our hearts are with Megan and all who held Andrea close." Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at
Boston Globe
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Poet Andrea Gibson, candid explorer of life, death and identity, dies at 49
The film — exploring the couple's enduring love as Gibson battles cancer — is directed by Ryan White and includes an original song written by Gibson, Sara Bareilles and Brandi Carlile. During a screening at Sundance in January that left much of the audience in tears, Gibson said they didn't expect to live long enough to see the documentary. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Tributes poured in Monday from friends, fans and fellow poets who said Gibson's words had changed their lives — and, in some cases, saved them. Many LGBTQ+ fans said Gibson's poetry helped them learn to love themselves. People with cancer and other terminal illnesses said Gibson made them less afraid of death by reminding them that we never really leave the ones we love. Advertisement In a poem Gibson wrote shortly before they died, titled 'Love Letter from the Afterlife,' they wrote: '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.' Advertisement Linda Williams Stay was 'awestruck' when her son, Aiden, took her to hear Gibson perform at a bar in San Francisco a decade ago. Their poetry was electrifying, lighting up the room with laughter, tears and love. Gibson's poetry became a shared interest for the mother and son, and eventually helped Stay better understand her son when he came out as transgender. 'My son this morning, when he called, we just sobbed together,' Stay said. 'He says, 'Mom, Andrea saved my life.'' 'I know,' she responded. Gibson's poetry later helped Stay cope with a cancer diagnosis of her own, which brought her son back home to St. George, Utah, to help take care of her. They were delighted when Gibson accepted their invitation to perform at an event celebrating the LGBTQ+ community in southern Utah. 'It was truly life-changing for our community down there, and even for our allies,' Stay said. 'I hope that they got a glimpse of the magnitude of their impact for queer kids in small communities that they gave so much hope to.' Gibson was born in Maine and moved to Colorado in the late 1990s, where they had served the past two years as the state's poet laureate. Their books included 'You Better Be Lightning,' 'Take Me With You' and 'Lord of the Butterflies.' Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said Monday that Gibson was 'truly one of a kind' and had 'a unique ability to connect with the vast and diverse poetry lovers of Colorado.' Advertisement In a 2017 essay published in Out magazine, Gibson remembered coming out at age 20 while studying creative writing at Saint Joseph's College of Maine, a Catholic school. Identifying as genderqueer, Gibson wrote that they didn't feel like a boy or a girl and cited a line of their poetry: 'I am happiest on the road/ When I'm not here or there — but in-between.' Comedian Tig Notaro, an executive producer on the documentary and Gibson's friend of 25 years, shared on Instagram how the two came up together as performers in Colorado. Hearing Gibson perform for the first time was like witnessing the 'pure essence of an old-school genuine rock star,' and their words have guided Notaro through life ever since, she said. 'The final past few days of Andrea's life were so painful to witness, but simultaneously one of the most beautiful experiences of all of our lives,' Notaro said. 'Surrounded by real human connection unfolding in the most unlikely ways during one of the most devastating losses has given me a gift that I will never be able to put into meaningful words.' Gibson's illness inspired many poems about mortality, depression, life and what happens next. In the 2021 poem 'How the Worst Day of My Life Became My Best,' Gibson declared 'When I realized the storm/was inevitable, I made it/my medicine.' Two years later, they wondered: 'Will the afterlife be harder if I remember/the people I love, or forget them?' 'Either way, please let me remember.'
