Homosexuality is unAfrican - Adv Pilane

Homosexuality is unAfrican & still has no room in Botswana society Advocate Sidney Pilane this afternoon when arguing against the decriminalisation of Section 164 of the Constitution. Pilane presented his arguments on behalf of Attorney General (AG) for the State. He said that homosexuality does not collerate with the traditional values of Batswana, adding that there was also no substantial evidence to indicate that Batswana's views on homosexuality had softened in the past years and that they were more accepting of it, as argued by LEGAGIBO lawyer Gosego Lekgowe. "There is no evidence that Batswana's attitudes towards homosexuality have changed.There is also no evidence that gays have been discriminated against," he said.He asked what was so important about 'sex' that homosexuals could not do it without upsetting the laws.He also stated that gays would still get HIV and not use condoms even if homosexuality was decriminalised, in reference to a Ministry of Health report that stipulated that gays did not receive access to open health care since homosexuality is illegal & not recognised. Pilane wondered if there was room to change the law to accomodate all sorts of behaviour, rhetorically asking: "Should those who partake in beasility - (sleep with animals) also come here and want laws to be changed?"He said that government should be left to decide whether not to change the law based on societal values.Tshiamo Rantao, also representing LEGAGIBO shot down Pilane's arguments & said that the attorney was not addressing traditional values and public views but was rather peddling his own personal views. Rantao said that the AG had failed to prove the case that there is no evidence to repeal the law.Meanwhile, Lekgowe emphasised that there should be determination of whether Section 164 violates Constitutional provisions. -Judgment in the matter is expected to be handed down on 11 June 2019.