Same-sex sexual activity (specifically including women) is punishable by 7 years imprisonment. Yet employees are protected by law from being terminated because of their sexual orientation or HIV status. The Constitution guarantees rights for all people to freedom of expression, freedom of association and freedom of assembly. These were upheld for LGBTI people in 2014, when the High Court ruled that denying NGO registration to Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana (LEGABIBO) violated these rights, adding “it is also not a crime to be homosexual”.
While the case has been appealed, “(t)he judgment sends a message of hope across a continent where the lives of LGBTI people have become more difficult and more dangerous in recent years,” said Caine Youngman, a litigant. LEGABIBO’s goals are to advocate for the rights of LGBTI people, raise awareness, and educate on health and psycho-social support. Rainbow Identity Association (RIA) is an organization of transgender and intersex people, which was legally registered in 2010.
Tshepo Riqu Cosadu:
Keywords: Rainbow Identity Association;
LGBT rights; Trans; Transgender; Transsexual; Family; Gender Identity; Gender
Dysphoria; Gender Variance.
Tshepo: “We’ve
got a very strong sense of culture in Botswana, a tradition that says you’re
either man or you’re woman. Men do this, women do this. Transitioning from one
gender…into one of one’s choosing is a mission that - I think it puts a lot of
people in confusion.”
Synopsis: Tshepo Riqu Cosadu identifies as a
transgender woman. She is the Advocacy Officer for Rainbow Identity
Association in Botswana, working as an advocate for transgender and
intersex rights on health issues, HIV/AIDS, prenatal and postnatal care, transgender
parenting, and legal recognition and rights for transgender and intersex
people. Tshepo speaks about the strong culturally embedded gender roles in
Botswana, based on a female/male binary, and the issues that this creates for
transgender and transsexual individuals. Learning about gender dysphoria through
the media, Tshepo began to identify herself as trans, and speaks about how that
gave her a sense pf affirmation and belonging. Tshepo emphasizes the importance
of acceptance of gender variance and works to advocate positive ideas about
trans identities and inclusion.
Manno Setaelo:
Caine Kaene Youngman:
Keywords: Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of
Botswana (LeGaBiBo); Lesbian; Family; Sexual Orientation; Lesbian
Parenting; Religion; LGBT rights.
Manno: “I love God…and there’s no man who’s gonna come and tell me, ‘because
you are like that, you can’t worship your God.’”
Synopsis: Manno Setaelo speaks about her
ability to come out as a lesbian through the support and sense of community
gained from her involvement in Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana
(LeGaBiBo), which emphasizes the importance of not hiding one’s gender
identity or sexual orientation. Manno discusses a conversation with her brother,
who questions her sexual identity, and in particular, that it would be
impossible for her to have children as a lesbian. Manno discusses the various options for a
lesbian to have children including a conversation with a housemate who
suggested that she should just have sex with a man once to get pregnant. Manno explains
that her religious beliefs do not interfere with her sexual identity and vice versa.
Manno’s resilience in the face of conventional views challenges assumptions of
both the heteronormative family and religion-based homophobia.
Caine Kaene Youngman:
Keywords: Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of
Botswana (LeGaBiBo); Gay; Religion; Family; Health and Mental Health;
Sexual Orientation; Gender Identity; Stigma.
Caine: “When I came to terms with my sexuality, I
decided never to let anybody stand in my way. Whenever somebody challenges me
or to tries to look down on me, I will stand up.”
Synopsis: A leader in Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals
of Botswana (LeGaBiBo), Caine Kaene Youngman speaks about growing up and remembers
thinking that his feelings would pass in time. His mother recalls him as a
‘normal boy’, until he went to senior school. She says it is not a choice to be
gay. It is clear in the interview that Caine’s sexual orientation caused a
great deal of pain for both Caine and his mother due to society’s lack of
acceptance of homosexuals. Caine speaks about being very religious, and that he
changed religion in order to find peace within himself, and to live his life. Caine
believes children should not have to face challenges surrounding sexuality on
their own. With the support of his mother and LeGaBiBo, Caine became the
litigant in a constitutional challenge to the criminalization of homosexuality
in Botswana, and to the law denying registration to LeGaBiBo. For more on Caine’s
story see Botho –LGBT Lives in Botswana.