ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses the posthumous publication of the diaries of four Russian queer artists (Konstantin Romanov, Mikhail Kuzmin, Konstantin Somov and Vadim Kozin) within the distinct discursive landscape of post-Soviet Russia, characterized by a radical re-thinking of the relationship between the public and private spheres. The chapter focuses in particular on the construal of homosexuality as a symbol of an autonomous private realm, on the one hand, and as a dangerous secret, on the other. While such posthumously published diaries represent one of the few opportunities for queer voices to reach a broad public in contemporary Russia, the framing of these diaries testifies to the enduring legacy of Soviet prudery alongside new conceptualisations of sexuality’s role in an individual’s identity. The chronological treatment of the diaries traces shifts in the post-Soviet discursive landscape, offering alternatives to the official discourse on homosexuality promulgated by the Putin government in the context of its promotion of traditional family values.
