Daria Kasatkina

Daria Kasatkina, Russia's highest-ranked women's tennis player and the world No. 12, revealed in a video interview that she is dating Natalia Zabiiako.

Of course, it is up to you to decide how to do it and how much you tell. Zabbiako, who won silver at the 2018 Winter Games, re-posted the snap on her page beside a yellow heart emoji. It is pointless, you will be completely focused on that until you choose to come out.

Activists and athletes say this is an important and symbolic moment for rights of LGBTQ+ people in Russia.

In the civilised world, no one should be condemned for this,” said one of the many encouraging comments that were upvoted by other readers. “It is so important for younger people to have role models who are like them. “Well done for saying what you said. “I was ecstatic, jumping around like crazy in my flat.” For them to see that there is absolutely nothing wrong with them,” Karpova added. “The timing is so symbolic as well, with all the fucked-up things happening in Russia.”

Daria Kasatkina, Russia's highest ranked female tennis player, came out as gay in an interview, while addressing rising homophobic attitudes in the country.

"Living in peace with yourself is the only thing that matters." "Living in the closet is impossible. Though same-sex relationships were decriminalized in Russia in 1993, the tides have shifted in recent years.

After calling the war a “nightmare” and coming out as gay in an interview, Daria Kasatkina, the highest-ranked Russian woman, said she worried for her ...

In a twist of irony, Elena Rybakina, who was born in Russia but opted to represent Kazakhstan four years ago in exchange for funding from that country’s tennis federation, won the Wimbledon women’s singles title. Asked whether two women would ever be able to walk down the street holding hands, she said, “Never.” The move was popular in Britain, according to opinion polls, but received significant pushback from the men’s and women’s tennis tours. Earlier this year, before the invasion, Andrey Rublev, another top Russian player, wrote “No War Please” on a television camera following a match. “I can’t imagine what it’s like to have no home,” she said. Russian players had made no effort to speak with her or express empathy, Tsurenko said. “Even Europe can’t do” anything, she said, using an expletive. They condemned it as discriminatory and decided to withhold rankings points for any victories at Wimbledon. It also represented a dramatic break with precedents of not letting politics interfere with individual athletes’ participation in sports and of limiting punishments taken in reaction to the war to barring Russian and Belarusian teams or any flags or other symbols of the countries from competitions. In April, acting at the behest of the British government, the All England Lawn Tennis Club, which runs Wimbledon, and the Lawn Tennis Association, which oversees the other annual spring and summer tournaments in England, barred Russian and Belarusian players from their tournaments. For the first time since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, a Russian tennis player has publicly criticized the war, a move that may land her in trouble if and when she returns to her home country. For Kasatkina, currently the highest-ranked Russian woman at No. 12, the statements were a rare move for a celebrity of her stature in Russia, where President Vladimir V. Putin has supported a series of laws against speaking out against the war and against expressing favorable views of homosexuality. After calling the war a “nightmare” and coming out as gay in an interview, Daria Kasatkina, the highest-ranked Russian woman, said she worried for her safety if she returned to her home country.

Daria Kasatkina has become the latest prominent Russian sportswoman to come out as gay and criticised attitudes to homosexuality in her country.

I think there is nothing easier in this world than being straight. Russian lawmakers have proposed extending a ban on the promotion of "non-traditional" sexual relationships to minors to include adults as well. Kasatkina was inspired by Russian football star Nadya Karpova; Russian lawmakers have proposed extending a ban on the promotion of "non-traditional" sexual relationships to minors to include adults as well; Kasatkina has also criticised the ongoing war in Ukraine

Daria Kasatkina, Russia's highest-ranked female tennis player, took a stand on LGBTQ rights and the war in Ukraine in an interview.

The weapons: Ukraine is making use of weapons such as Javelin antitank missiles and Switchblade “kamikaze” drones, provided by the United States and other allies. Russia appears set to resume ground offensives, with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu telling troops on Saturday to intensify attacks “in all operational sectors” of Ukraine. “I believe it’s important that influential people from sports, or any other sphere really, speak about it,” she said, adding that “living in the closet” would be too difficult in the long term. Kyiv also said that hundreds of criminal investigations for suspected “treason and collaboration activities” were underway. “I can’t imagine what it’s like to have no home — not because you haven’t bought it, but because your home was taken away.” Last year, the U.S.-based nonprofit Freedom House gave Russia a score of zero when it comes to the equal treatment of minorities, including gay people, in society.

Kasatkina revealed she was dating figure skater Natalia Zabiiako and decried Russia's anti-gay laws.

According to The Council for Global Equality, this resulted in a notable increase of attacks against the LGBTQ community and thwarted pride marches. She’s currently ranked the 12th-best professional tennis player in the world and wields enormous visibility as a result, according to CNN. “Living in the closet is impossible,” Kasatkina, who now lives outside of Russia, said.

The 25-year-old's opposition may mean she can no longer call Russia home.

“For the war to end,” she says bluntly. As an openly gay athlete who has denounced the war, there is no place for her in Russia anymore. The idea of the Russian backlash is clearly troubling her. It must be noted that the hardship of two Russian professional tennis players pales in comparison to those who have lost loved ones and homes as a result of the invasion. She bemoans Russia’s attitude to homosexuality, which has worsened in recent years as Putin has tried to de-Westernise the country. Her face was suddenly all over the sports news, and frankly, coming out was only the start of it.

Kasatkina continues to talk openly about her identity in an authoritarian country that's hostile towards LGBTQ people.

This is the first time Kasatkina has been in the top 15 since early 2019. And the best part is, she’s experiencing success as an out and proud LGBTQ person. In addition to advocating for LGBTQ equality, she spoke out about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin’s government has passed an array of anti-LGBTQ ordinances in recent years. Last year, she pledged her support for LGBTQ people when asked why few athletes publicly come out. This isn’t the first time Kasatkina has spoken about the dearth of LGBTQ rights and recognition in her native country.