The Bulletin Of The Atomic Scientists Thinks Nuclear Weapons Need More "Queer Theory"

Its mid-June article, "Queering nuclear weapons: How LGBTQ+ inclusion strengthens security and reshapes disarmament," suggested that incorporating a "queer lens" could contribute to a shift in the discourse surrounding nuclear weapons.

According to the authors, queer identity holds significance in the nuclear domain as it can potentially modify perspectives. They assert it could alter how officials, experts, and the general public perceive atomic weapons. The authors delineated queer theory as an academic field intimately linked to feminist theory, centered on examining sex and gender norms.

A salient argument was that queer theory pivots the focus from the abstract concept of national security to prioritizing individuals' rights and well-being. This, the authors argue, effectively challenges the prevailing understanding of nuclear weapons.

 WATCH: UCLA PROTESTORS LOST THEIR MIND CALLING THE UNIVERSITY A VIOLENT INSTITUTION

The publication critiqued the traditional discourse on nuclear deterrence for its masculine and "rational" connotations. The authors stated, "Nuclear deterrence is associated with 'rationality' and 'security,' while disarmament and justice for nuclear weapon victims are coded as 'emotion' and a lack of understanding of the 'real' mechanics of security."

 WATCH: TRUMP'S ATTORNEY FACING INDICTMENT IN ARIZONA

June 25, 2023

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists drew attention to historical protests such as the Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp. This almost two-decade-long protest against the storage of U.S. nuclear missiles in the UK was composed predominantly of women, many identifying as lesbians. The authors posit that these women recognized the gendered nature of atomic weapons, understanding that patriarchal power structures were the common denominator in women's oppression and nuclear armament.

 IS MCDONALD'S BECOMING THE NEW CHAMPION OF AFFORDABILITY?

"Their protests, often involving feminine-coded symbols like pictures of children, defined nuclear weapons by the existential threat they pose, instead of the protection they supposedly offer," the authors noted. They further alleged that criticism of a non-traditional perspective on nuclear weapons from a queer viewpoint is a strategy to silence marginalized voices and affirm that nuclear weapons discourse is the preserve of "serious" and "rational" (read: male) actors.

 DRAMATIC COURTROOM TWIST: WIFE OF ACCUSED 'CLIFF-DRIVER' MAKES DESPERATE PLEA FOR HUSBAND

The publication postulated that queer theory disputes the binary thinking that "nuclear deterrence creates security and disarmament creates vulnerability" and instead urges people to envision a world where nuclear weapons are unnecessary. Furthermore, it recognized queer theory's essential role in fostering sensitivity towards marginalized groups in a predominantly cis-heteronormative society.

 MICHAEL RAPAPORT FURIOUS AFTER SHOW GETS CANCELED

Lastly, the authors maintained that queer theory informed the pursuit of nuclear justice and disarmament and urged the field of atomic weapons policy to reflect on its legacy of exclusion and homogeneity. As the world observes Pride Month, the authors posited that it is time for the nuclear weapons discourse to shift its narrative and embrace the queer perspective.