Greg Marshall to Speak on Disability, Queerness and Writing

Author Greg Marshall reads from his book Leg, a memoir recounting his experience growing up as a gay man with cerebral palsy, at the University of Oregon’s Knight Library Tuesday, May 20. The book was named one of the best nonfiction titles of the year by NPR, USA Today, The Washington Post, Esquire and LitHub, and was a finalist for the 2023 Lambda Literary Prize. This will be Marshall’s first time visiting Eugene. “My personal connection in Oregon — the fertility clinic — was in Portland,” Marshall says. He and his husband recently welcomed their infant son. Marshall’s connection to the UO began when Brian Trapp invited him to speak via Zoom. Trapp, who directs both the Kidd Creative Writing Program and the Disability Studies Program, later arranged for Marshall to speak on campus in person. Marshall says, “July is disability pride month. I am a gay man and I came out when I was 19. Gay pride and June has been a part of my life for decades, but I didn’t know about disability pride until two or three years ago.” He says Leg “is not an explicit book at all” but includes open conversations about sex and dating. “I notice with books, especially about disability, that they almost never talked about sex,” he says. “There is kinda of this de-sexed nature,” adding, “I really wanted to talk about my romantic and intimate life.” Marshall has also published essays including “If I Only Had a Leg: Growing Up Gay with Cerebral Palsy” in Electric Literature and “Corey” in the Southwest Review.

Greg Marshall’s reading and Q&A is 7 pm Tuesday, May 20, at the Knight Library Browsing Room, located on the first floor, room 106. Free. For updates on publications and events, follow Greg Marshall on Instagram at @greg_from_a_leg.

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