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Sites and Insights Gay Botswana News & Reports BBC Report 1998: Africa is Dying of AIDS--Botswana Worst Hit 1 Botswana: Is there hope in 'Vision 2016'? 5/04 2 Botswana Gays Rejoice As Opponents See Red 11/06 3 Botswana refuses to register gay advocacy group 12/07 4 African lesbian conference demands equal rights 2/08
May
26, 2004 Those resilient family values and the sense of tradition will surely be the tools of oppression for those intent on excluding LGBT people from the framework of Botswana's society. None the less, the document should bring hope. All that is needed now are the activists willing to engage in the fight. Surely the government will not necessarily interpret voluntarily the Vision 2016 to the advantage of LGBT people but at the very least it can be seen as an invitation to LGBT community to begin to organise using the wording of the Vision itself.
17 November 2006 2 by Tuduetso Setsiba LEGABIBO, an organization of Gays and lesbians in Botswana has applauded South Africans for passing the law despite the fact that homosexuality and lesbianism remains a taboo in the country. An exhilarated coordinator of LEGABIBO, Skipa Moepi said the law is long overdue in Botswana. She lameted that their attempts to seek recognition of gays and lesbians have been thwarted as Botswana is said not to be ready for same-sex relationships. "This is frustrating as homosexuality has always existed in Botswana. We suppressed it because we are such a secretive society," she said. She lamented that they cannot register LEGABIBO because the Constitution does not recognise them. " It is even difficult for homosexuals to access medical facilities as they are discriminated," she said. Moepi's sentiments have been echoed by the director of Botswana Network of Ethics, Law and AIDS (BONELA), Christine Stegling who emphasised the necessity of passing out a law that recognise gay and lesbian marriages. She said this would be an indication of Botswana's commitment to human rights and fighting discrimination. Stegling said that her organisation takes a stand against discrimination of people, including on the grounds of sexual orientation. She said they advocate for tolerance and acceptance for the different people who make up Botswana's population. These includes recognising the rights of people identified as non-heterosexual. "But it is also important to note that the current discrimination and marginalisation faced by the non-heterosexual community needs to be addressed in general, not just the issue of marriage," she said. She warned that if gay people continue to feel marginalised or discriminated, they will not feel comfortable to seek HIV treatment in public health services or the tools that might prevent HIV. The strategies to fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic must include everyone, including people of non-heterosexual orientation and recognising their right to equality," said Stegling. Contrary to Stegling's sentiments, Reverend John Philip is worried that abomination seems to be taking toll in the society. "I'm worried that this might open the floodgates for other sinful acts. Passing such a law might result in requests for group marriages and other weird acts. In fact, I would not be surprised if tomorrow one might suggest that they should be allowed marry a tree," he said. Phillip is worried that as neighbours of South Africa, Botswana might feel pressured to follow suit and pass a law to legalise same sex relationships. He called on Batswana to seek their identity and uphold their morals as a nation. He fears that South Africa might have passed the law to be labelled the first country in Africa to legislate for same sex marriages. "Sometimes keeping up with the so called civilisation can lead people astray," he said. He added that laws allowing same sex marriages clearly indicate that mankind has strayed from the will of God. Apart from the biblical rejection of such laws, Philip argues that even the biological set up of man kind dictates that a man should marry a woman. "The body of a man has been designed for a woman and vice versa," said Philip. Jaya Kumar of NIIT abhors the idea of passing laws to allow same sex marriages. She argues that there is no culture that entertains such a practice. People should stick to their practices and norms, they should not be swayed by whatever comes their way," she said. She warned Batswana to stay away from such a law and implored them to copy only what is good. Lucy Gaetsewe of Oodi is worried that Botswana might copy what South Africa has done. She detests gay and lesbian marriages and feels that it should not be welcome in any society. However, Emily Kwapa supports same sex marriages. She argues that whether they are allowed to marry or not, homosexuals shall continue with their relationships. "Monitoring such people is difficult. We cannot stop them from dating so it is best that we allow them to marry," she said. Keneilwe Kgari shares the same sentiments as Kwape. She feels that society wants to selfishly protect their feelings and that of their families at the expense of gay people. In most cases, people are worried about their children whom they fear might copy the practice," she said. Kgari hailed the South African Parliament for passing such a law for same sex marriage. She argued that many people have not chosen to be gay. In any case it does not mean that when a majority of people reject an idea, it means that there is something wrong with it," she said.
7th December 2007 3 by PinkNews.co.uk staff writer The registrar has powers to refuse registration of any local society "when it appears to him or her that the proposed society's objectives are likely to be used for an unlawful purpose, thus disturbing the country's peace, welfare and good order," according to Mmegi Online. LEGABIBO's lawyers argue that the group was constituted to advocate for greater rights for gay, lesbian and bisexual people in Botswana through policy consultation and tackling public health issues. The group's constitution, adopted in August 1998, reads: "The Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana (LEGABIBO) Charter was drafted in response to those amendments to the Botswana Penal Code, which came into effect on the 30th April 1998 and extended the seven year maximum penalty, for men caught engaging in same-sex sexual relations, to women as well. It is hoped that this Carter will help to break down the negative image, and counter the prejudice and discrimination, currently facing the lesbian, gay and bisexual community in Botswana. We, the Community, are rejected, victimised, assaulted and blackmailed. This is because of societal myths and because homosexuality is a taboo subject in our culture. We face stigmatisation and prejudice from family members, friends, and society in general. The Charter calls for tolerance and understanding by the Government and people of Botswana, in order to counteract the prejudice and discrimination we face." The notice of LEGABIBO's intention to sue the government for refusing to register their organisation says the decision was improper and unlawful. "Claimant holds the firm view that this matter implicates a whole array of constitutional rights and protections not least of which are the right to freedom of expression, freedom of association as well as the right to the equal protection of the law," it reads.
27th February 2008 4 by PinkNews.co.uk staff writer Women from 14 African countries gathered in Namibia's capital Windhoek in August 2004 to develop the Coalition of African Lesbians. Lesbian organisations and a number of individual women from Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia, Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa, Mozambique and Namibia are members of the organisation. "Our main goal is that lesbian and homosexuality can no longer be seen as a criminal offence," the group's director and conference spokeswoman Fikile Vilakazi told Reuters. "You should not be arrested and charged for how you use your own body." The coalition lobbies for political, legal social, sexual, cultural and economic rights of African lesbians by engaging strategically with African and international structures and allies and to eradicate stigma and discrimination against lesbians. South Africa, one of the few countries on the continent where gay men and lesbians are allowed to marry and legally protected from discrimination, has been rocked by several murders of prominent lesbian activists. Sizakele Sigasa, 34, an activist for HIV/AIDS and LGBT rights, and Salome Masooa, 24, were discovered dead at field in Soweto, Johannesburg, on July 8th. They had both been shot and, it is suspected, raped. On 22nd July Thokozane Qwabe, 23, was found in a field in Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal with multiple head wounds. She was naked and it is thought she was also raped. |
