Transgender Community discriminated

Gov’t urged to approve gender marker policy

Local Transgender Community has urged government to recognise and affirm the gender marker policy in order to enable transgender people to change their gender marker without any hindrances.

Community Mobiliser at Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana (LEGABIBO), Mogomotsi Thobega laments that transgender people are currently sidelined.

Thobega said this community fails to navigate through areas of their daily lives because they do not have identity documents that match their gender identity.

Thobega said transgender persons’ ability to live in dignity, equality and security is compromised thereby making them vulnerable to discrimination and stigmatisation whenever they are required to show identity documents to verify their identity.

“This policy came about through consultation with the local transgender community and you will see that there is information that shares experiences that the transgender community cannot access services,” Thobega said.

Furthermore, Thobega shared that there is high unemployment in the transgender community because most of them have dropped out of school, and some have been pushed out of their families because of their identities.

Thobega said the gender maker policy will enable them to attain some form of security.

Recently LEGABIBO launched the Legal Gender Recognition Policy Booklet. It will enable transgender and gender diverse persons to lead a fulfilling life and contribute to the development of the nation.