BACKLASH FEAR

Participation of LGBTIQ in constitutional review low

The Lesbians, Gays, and Bisexuals of Botswana (LEGABIBO) have decried the low participation of their community in the ongoing national consultative meetings on the review of the constitution.

LEGABIBO Policy and Legal Advocacy Advisor Raymond Kolanyane told The Midweek Sun that the LGBTIQ people are shying away from participating owing to the fact that they are often castigated, and discriminated against.

According to Kolanyane, many are not showing up during kgotla consultative meetings even when encouraged to do so due to the backlash they suffer from the community.

“I would not say it is targeted discrimination. They are afraid to participate because there is discrimination at kgotla meetings,” Kolanyane said.

Kolanyane urged the LGBTIQ community to use other means to get their opinions heard in the constitutional review process, including sending letters if they believe that they are not safe. The Policy and Legal Advocacy team has been going across the country to provide support and to try and mobilise the LGBTIQ community to participate in collaboration with other support groups in different regions across the country.

This team also helps the LGBTIQ community to articulate issues to make them relevant to the constitutional review. The team is available to accompany willing members to kgotla meetings.

This week LEGABIBO commemorated the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexphobia, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), which brought together Civil Society Organisations in Botswana, LGBTI persons, and key players in policy and law-making reforms.

In an interview, Education, Awareness, and Communications Manager at LEGABIBO Matlhogonolo Samsam said the meeting focused on issues of creating safe spaces for queer Batswana and engaged in conversation on how to create such safe spaces.

According to Samsam, the commemoration, which was held in a Town Hall meeting, was an opportunity for all stakeholders in the human rights space to collectively address the marginalisation of communities like the LGBTI community.

Further, it was for stakeholders to identify the role they each play in achieving and maintaining an enabling environment for civil society to contribute to social cohesion, enhance political participation, encourage social innovations, and serve as a vehicle for progressive transformation, where human rights are key to the development of Botswana.

The meeting also expressed how safe spaces play a critical role in the lives of LGBTIQ persons across the world.

“They not only serve as protection hubs but also as resource centres for people who are relegated from communities.”

Samsam added that it is important for all players in the human rights fraternity to ensure that they contribute to community-oriented efforts to curb violence, stigma, and discrimination.