"A Normal Boy" — Miloslav Chemodanov

Kvartira Books will host the presentation of the long-awaited book by Miloslav Chemodanov entitled Normal Boy. This is a very rare example of a Russian-language autobiography by a queer person, set against the backdrop of contemporary Russian legislation that bans so-called “gay propaganda” and equates members of the LGBTQ community with extremists. Chemodanov’s queer memoir traces his childhood during the collapse of the Soviet Union and his experience growing up in a brief period of relative freedom before the implementation of contemporary Russian legislation which restricted LGBTQ+ expression. Through a moving, personal narrative, Chemodanov offers an intimate account of memory, identity, and social change, providing insight into experiences which have seldom been documented from a gay perspective in Russian literature. This event will feature a reading from Chemodanov’s book followed by a discussion exploring themes such as personal history, political context, and the evolving landscape of LGBTQ+ life.