Daria Kasatkina hits back at ‘LGBTQ+ propaganda’ suggestions: ‘Nothing influenced me, but I still like girls’

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Daria Kasatkina plays a shot

Daria Kasatkina has dismissed suggestions that her sexuality was influenced by “LGBTQ+ propaganda” and Western culture while she also admits the overall feedback since coming out as a lesbian has been very positive.

On the back of Russian footballer Nadezhda Karpova opening up about her sexuality earlier this year, Kasatkina followed suit in July, stating that she hoped that her decision would help the often persecuted LGBTQ+ community in Russia.

While those close to her and the tennis community have praised her for going public, some Russian politicians have accused her of being influenced by Western and “LGBTQ+ propaganda”.

In an interview with Ksenia Sobchak on the YouTube channel “Caution, Sobchak”, the 25-year-old hit back, saying: “I grew up with no gay boys or lesbian girls around me. Nothing affected me.

“The maximum that happened was the Tatu group (Russian music group). I don’t think orientation can be promoted at all. It’s either this or that. Nothing influenced me, but I still like girls in the end.”

The Russian admits that she was expected a lot of “dark” clouds on the back of her decision to come out, but it has not been all bad news.

“I honestly prepared for the worst. I thought it would be dark, knowing our mentality,” she said. “But in the end, I was surprised how everything turned out. How cool. Not everything is as bad as I thought.”

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The world No 9 added: “It took me a long time to accept myself because society is pressing. Even if you begin to understand something, you think that it is something wrong. You begin to suppress it yourself, through force to meet with those whom you do not want to meet. It doesn’t make you feel any better, just disgusting.

“And you start hiding, leading a double life. And at some point, you already cease to understand who you are. Not so long ago, I came to the conclusion that I do not care at all.”

Russian State Duma deputy Biysultan Khamzaev suggested that Kasatkina came out as in an attempt to improve her chances of switching her nationality.

But the six-time WTA Tour singles title winner laughed off the claims.

“So let’s write it down. Now I am writing to the immigration service of some country: ‘Guys, I’m for girls, so give me a passport’,” she said.

“It’s a shame, of course, when deputies make such comments about their citizens, who have done nothing wrong, they just admitted who they are. If this is enough to block a person from entering the country, it is sad.”

Daria Kasatkina

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