Her comments come after the Russian Parliament announced the tightening of already stringent rules against the public discussions of LGBTQ relationships.
Kasatkina’s interview was with Russian YouTuber Vitya Kravchenko who asked the tennis star if she had a girlfriend, to which Kasatkina said, Yes.
The tennis star also added that living in the closet was not sustainable in the long term. “There is no point, it would always be going round in your head until you say something. Obviously, each person decides how to open up and how much,” Kasatkina said.
After her interview, she posted a picture of her and Olympian Natalia Zabiiako with the caption, My cutie pie.
My cutie pie @NataliaZabiiako pic.twitter.com/Jao9iRiOGq
— Daria Kasatkina (@DKasatkina) July 18, 2022
Zabiiako posted the same image with a heart.
Since 2013, Russian laws have forbidden the discussion of LGBTQ relationships which it deems as, the “promotion of non-traditional sexual relations” to minors. They have also restricted LGBTQ advocacy and protests in public forums.
Kasatkina who is ranked No.12 in the world lives and trains in Spain. She has also called for an end to the Ukrainian occupation asking for, the war to end when asked what she wanted most in the world.
She was also in tears when she was asked if she was afraid she wont be able to return to Russia after the interview aired.