Andrea Gibson made a career at the forefront of the spoken-word movement. Gibson was the first winner of the Women's World Poetry Slam and headlined prestigious performance venues all over the country and abroad. Gibson's poetry focuses on gender norms, politics, social reform, and the struggles LGBTQ people face in today's society. A devoted fanbase sees Gibson's work as a rally cry to action and a welcome mat at the door of the heart's most compassionate room. Born in Calais, Maine, Gibson lived for many years in Colorado and was named the state's poet laureate in 2023. Andrea Gibson passed away in July 2025.