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Pseudo-lesbian pop duo awaits viewers of Sochi Olympics opening

Pseudo-lesbian pop duo awaits viewers of Sochi Olympics opening
Mark Humphrey, APRussian duo t.A.T.u. Lena Katina, third from left, and Yulia Volkova, second from left, perform on stage before the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Friday, Feb. 7, 2014.
Mark Humphrey, AP
Russian duo t.A.T.u. Lena Katina, third from left, and Yulia Volkova, second from left, perform on stage before the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Friday, Feb. 7, 2014.

SOCHI, Russia — The pseudo-lesbian Russian pop duo t.A.T.u. is performing at the opening ceremony of the Sochi Olympics, with a song about two schoolgirls in love.

It’s a curious choice for Friday’s event, designed to showcase Russia to the world just as many activists and world leaders are angry over a Russian law against gay rights “propaganda.”

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The event’s producer said tATu’s “Not Gonna Get Us” was chosen because it’s one of the only Russian pop songs that international viewers might recognize.

Konstantin Ernst, the ceremony’s director, said the choice was about motivating athletes with an upbeat dance song that challenges competitors by saying “you’re not going to get us.”

While the singers put on a “lesbian act,” they are not championing gay rights — the performance is largely seen as an attention-getting gimmick that contrasts with the very real anger over a Russian law banning gay “propaganda” aimed at minors that is being used to discriminate against gays.

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