Yulia Volkova, one half of Russian pop duo t.A.T.u., has attracted controversy for making comments about gay men in a recent interview on Russian television.
Volkova was asked whether she would accept or condemn her son if he turned out to be gay, and she said she would not accept a gay son. The statement has struck some as hypocritical considering t.A.T.u.’s reputation for feigning lesbianism.
“I think for men it’s a bad freedom,” she replied.
“In our time, there is a very large number of frivolous girls (and a man can be with a large number of these girls). This is freedom for men.
“And a man has no right to be a fag. Two girls together – not the same thing as the two men together. It seems to me that lesbians look aesthetically much nicer than two men holding their hands or kissing.
“But! I want to say that I’m not against gays, I just want my son to be a real man, not a fag.
“I have many gay friends. I believe that being gay is all still better than murderers, thieves or drug addicts. If you choose out of all this, being gay a little better than the rest.”
t.A.T.u. became well known following the release of their song ‘All the Things She Said’. The video attracted controversy because it featured the two singers dressed as schoolgirls and kissing in the rain.
