Botswana's Fight for LGBTQ+ Rights
The people on the ground need our support
Anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment is on the rise all around the world.
Every now and then though, we see a small bright spot in the mess of roiling darkness that is the march against progress. Today, that bright spot is Botswana.
On the African continent, there are few countries that grant protections to LGBTQ+ people. Due to colonial era laws and fundamentalist religious cultures, many people across the nations of Africa view gay and trans people with particular disgust.
It’s to the point where countries like Uganda even have the death penalty on the books for ‘repeat offenders.’ Many others are doubling down on legislative hate.
But Botswana is moving in the opposite direction. They’re increasing their protections for same-sex couples and intimacy, and the people impacted by this are pushing for one step futher.
There is now a fight in Botswana to legalize gay marriage.
22 countries across Africa have decriminalized same-sex relationships, but only South Africa currently allows gay marriage. For context, there are 54 recognized countries in Africa.
Now, that fight has opponants. The same opponants found across the rest of the continent, and most other countries in the world — the religious fundies and the bigots who see gay rights as ‘an attack on the culture of our country.’
You know the type.
Still, this is a fight worth watching and spreading the word about. Public pressure works, and winning smaller battles helps weaken the enemy’s position.
So, please; help me spread this far and wide. Gay marriage advocates in Botswana need our support, and so do the activists across the rest of Africa. Those in Niger, Uganda and Ghana who are facing an uphill battle for acceptance in cultures rapidly deteriorating into mobs of loathing.
If you want to help more directly, there are numerous charities across Africa which provide support for LGBTQ+ people facing discrimination and oppression. I would suggest the African Human Rights Coalition is a good place to start if you’re looking to donate; they provide a lot of assistance for people displaced by hate.
But even making an effort to inform others about this is a good, helpful move. Spread the word on social media, tell your friends and family, and do your best to provide open support for gay marriage worldwide.
No matter where you live, that Overton Window needs a good stiff shove in the right direction. The internet makes borders a lot less meaningful when it comes to misinformation and hate.
But it also means the opposite; our voices spread a lot further than we think.
Solidarity wins.