Abdi Nazemian, award-winning author, screenwriter and producer, will speak about how books can change lives—and even save lives—especially for teens and young adults. As part of the Marriott Library’s involvement in Banned Books Week, the title of his talk is Love is Our Legacy: Communicating Across Differences.

“I grew up with my own history hidden from me. I know how lonely it can feel to not see yourself represented,” explains Nazemian.

During his presentation, Nazemian will discuss how his experiences as an intersectional Iranian-American son, artist and parent have taught him the value of open communication and empathy for all. Nazemian is author of the novel Like a Love Story, which has been banned statewide in Utah public schools.

“The more we communicate, the less we fear each other and the closer we get to understanding we have more in common than divides us,” says Nazemian.

Abdi Nazemian is the author of Only This Beautiful Moment—winner of the Stonewall Award and the Lambda Literary Award—and Like a Love Story, a Stonewall Honor Book and one of Time Magazine’s 100 Best Young Adult Books of All Time. He is also the author of the young adult novels Exquisite Things, Desert Echoes, The Chandler Legacies and The Authentics. His novel The Walk-In Closet won the Lambda Literary Award for LGBT Debut Fiction.

“We are delighted to welcome Abdi Nazemian to speak at the Marriott Library,” comments Sarah Shreeves, Alice Sheets Marriott Dean of Libraries. “It is so important that young people can read books that help them understand and name their own experiences—only one of many reasons that these books should remain accessible.”

More About the Speaker, Abdi Nazemian

Abdi Nazemian is the author of Only This Beautiful Moment—winner of the Stonewall Award and the Lambda Literary Award—and Like a Love Story, a Stonewall Honor Book and one of Time Magazine’s 100 Best Young Adult Books of All Time. He is also the author of the young adult novels Exquisite Things, Desert Echoes, The Chandler Legacies and The Authentics. His novel The Walk-In Closet won the Lambda Literary Award for LGBT Debut Fiction.

Abdi’s screenwriting credits include the films The Artist’s Wife, The Quiet, and numerous television series including It’s Not Like That and Sweet Magnolias. He has been a producer, executive producer or associate producer on numerous films, including Call Me by Your Name, Little Woods, and Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood. He lives in Los Angeles with his husband, their two children and their dog, Disco.

Like a Love Story has been banned in Utah public schools.