You Better Be Lightning

Andrea Gibson is an American poet, author, and activist known for their powerful and socially conscious spoken word performances. Born in Calais, Maine in 1975, Gibson began performing poetry at open mic nights while studying political science at St. Joseph's College. They gained recognition in the early 2000s through the National Poetry Slam, winning the Individual World Poetry Slam in 2006. Gibson's poetry often explores themes of love, gender identity, mental health, and social justice, and has been described as raw, vulnerable, and emotionally charged. They have released several collections of poetry, including their most recent work, "Lord of the Butterflies," and have performed at venues and events all over the world. Gibson's writing has also been featured in publications such as The Huffington Post and Buzzfeed.