Security, sexuality, and the Gay Clown Putin meme: Queer theory and international responses to Russian political homophobia

Focusing on the case of ‘Gay Clown Putin’, this article theorizes memes as visual interventions in international politics. While not all are political interventions, Gay Putin is an iconic meme that part response to Russian state-directed homophobia emerged after gay propaganda law was passed 2013. How it has circulated and attention received make apt for exploring challenge national security discourses. Here, I provide three readings suggest different possibilities how might work politically. In so doing, deepen relations’ engagement with queer theory by bringing politics play works through a epistemology embraces deviance. Bringing study security, show collection images making up provides space understanding security.