Queer community fights on
The LGBTQI community across Botswana is shell-shocked at the backlash suffered by people who spoke openly for the rights of the LGBTQI community in Kgotla meetings during the nation-wide tour of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Review Of the Constitution of Botswana.
The reactions they received in the different areas across the country are indication that there is still a lot of stigma from some members of the community. Spokesperson of LEGABIBO Raymond Kolanyane told The Midweek
Sun that the backlash came in two ways. The first and most common type of attack came immediately in the kgotla after an individual would advocate for queer rights. This would continue into communities even some time after the Commission left.
Kolanyane recalls an incident in Mmopane where some members of the community who were participants at the kgotla meeting became hostile after hearing what the LGBTQI community was advocating for.
In Shakawe an individual was kicked out of church after he spoke openly for queer rights. This same individual also suffered emotional abuse from her family.
Kolanyane explained that in the commission of enquiry they had focused on certain objectives that they would love to see changed within the constitution.
One of those is non-discrimination. They were asking that section 15 and section 3 include sexual orientation and gender identity. Section 3 of the current constitution speaks of the fundamental rights and freedoms of the
individual whereas section 15 of the constitution speaks of protection from discrimination on the grounds of race, among others.
Kolanyane explained that people lobbied for the amendment of section 3 of the constitution to include protection of the LGBTQI community and for the constitution to protect people against discrimination based on their sexual orientation under section 15.
They were further lobbying for same sex couples to be able to start families and adopt children via surrogacy or any other means.
Kolanyane said he has recently talked to an individual who had a fallout with their family after advocating for queer rights. He is glad that things have got better for the said individual and they are in a better space mentally.
Kolanyane said that even though people in the queer community went through this, it was expected because this sort of criticism comes with the territory.
LEGABIBO has outreach programmes that aim to inform and educate community leaders about the LGBTQI community in Botswana. Kolanyane said that they also have initiatives where they sit with religious leaders because often they are the ones who openly speak against the queer community.
Through this platform they aim to educate and bridge the knowledge gap that cultivates issues of stigma and hate.
Kolanyane urged people to have an open mind and try to understand where another person is coming from. He urged people to be willing to learn from others as this will dissolve issues of stigma.
“LEGABIBO is a safe place for people in the LGBTQI community and it is open for people who need assistance in the queer community,” Kolanyane said.
The report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Review Of Constitution of Botswana stated that; presenters expressed disdain for same sex relationships stating that same sex was foreign and does not have a
place in the Botswana society.
The report continues to state that in detestation presenters stated that even animals, do not practice same sex relationships. They called for criminalisation of same sex relationships and called for among other things a prison term of 36 months.
However, the report also states that some presenters showed support for the LGBTQI community as they highlighted that their rights should be protected.
The report notes that the LGBTQI community must have the right to health, the right to found a family of choice, the right to work and the right to education.
Presenters who lobbied for the LGBTQI community also emphasised that queer people must have access to gender reassignment surgery and requisite hormonal medicine.
The reactions they received in the different areas across the country are indication that there is still a lot of stigma from some members of the community. Spokesperson of LEGABIBO Raymond Kolanyane told The Midweek
Sun that the backlash came in two ways. The first and most common type of attack came immediately in the kgotla after an individual would advocate for queer rights. This would continue into communities even some time after the Commission left.
Kolanyane recalls an incident in Mmopane where some members of the community who were participants at the kgotla meeting became hostile after hearing what the LGBTQI community was advocating for.
In Shakawe an individual was kicked out of church after he spoke openly for queer rights. This same individual also suffered emotional abuse from her family.
Kolanyane explained that in the commission of enquiry they had focused on certain objectives that they would love to see changed within the constitution.
One of those is non-discrimination. They were asking that section 15 and section 3 include sexual orientation and gender identity. Section 3 of the current constitution speaks of the fundamental rights and freedoms of the
individual whereas section 15 of the constitution speaks of protection from discrimination on the grounds of race, among others.
Kolanyane explained that people lobbied for the amendment of section 3 of the constitution to include protection of the LGBTQI community and for the constitution to protect people against discrimination based on their sexual orientation under section 15.
They were further lobbying for same sex couples to be able to start families and adopt children via surrogacy or any other means.
Kolanyane said he has recently talked to an individual who had a fallout with their family after advocating for queer rights. He is glad that things have got better for the said individual and they are in a better space mentally.
Kolanyane said that even though people in the queer community went through this, it was expected because this sort of criticism comes with the territory.
LEGABIBO has outreach programmes that aim to inform and educate community leaders about the LGBTQI community in Botswana. Kolanyane said that they also have initiatives where they sit with religious leaders because often they are the ones who openly speak against the queer community.
Through this platform they aim to educate and bridge the knowledge gap that cultivates issues of stigma and hate.
Kolanyane urged people to have an open mind and try to understand where another person is coming from. He urged people to be willing to learn from others as this will dissolve issues of stigma.
“LEGABIBO is a safe place for people in the LGBTQI community and it is open for people who need assistance in the queer community,” Kolanyane said.
The report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Review Of Constitution of Botswana stated that; presenters expressed disdain for same sex relationships stating that same sex was foreign and does not have a
place in the Botswana society.
The report continues to state that in detestation presenters stated that even animals, do not practice same sex relationships. They called for criminalisation of same sex relationships and called for among other things a prison term of 36 months.
However, the report also states that some presenters showed support for the LGBTQI community as they highlighted that their rights should be protected.
The report notes that the LGBTQI community must have the right to health, the right to found a family of choice, the right to work and the right to education.
Presenters who lobbied for the LGBTQI community also emphasised that queer people must have access to gender reassignment surgery and requisite hormonal medicine.
