legabibo fights for welfare and voice

By BTM Correspondent

April 17, 2007: Mothers Union – a Christian faith-based movement caring for welfares of families globally, at least will receive a letter of grievances from Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana (LeGaBiBo) of how the organisation was being ill-treated during a recent dialogue on homosexuality that took place in Botswana.

Held last month at an Anglican church in Gaborone, the dialogue attracted many religious leaders, medical practitioners and traditional leaders in that country. About 500 people – mostly the Anglicans, attended but many felt that it was more of a monologue than a dialogue as some participants were gagged to express their issues.

When she opened the session, Agnes Ncaagae who’s President of Botswana branch’s Mothers Union, explained the importance of holding the dialogue. “As Mothers Union we felt that there is [a] need for us to call this dialogue on homosexuality as we see that this illness and devil’s doing is destroying our church”, she cautioned.

LeGaBiBo was there to take part, and its representative – Skipper Mogapi – complained that she was gagged from talking positively about homosexuality. She further complained that the dialogue was one-sided as all panelists incessantly quoted the bible to reinforce their views condemning homosexuality.

“Even though I was invited, I was not put on the programme. People asked questions about homosexuality but I was cut very short when I tried to respond”, Mogapi lamented.

Other attendants also expressed their discontent. “I don’t see a point for us to listen to same thing, I understand that it is the Bishop and the priest’s responsibility to speak quoting from the bible, But when I came here today I excepted to hear views from doctors and the chief’s side.  I wanted to know whether culturally there were any gays and lesbians’, argued one attendant.

Mogapi managed to identify and point out at the voicelessness of Botswana’s gays and lesbians in the short period in which she was being allocated for. She says gays in that country are scared of stigma and discrimination, and this could be the reason the majority of them remain in the closet.

She emphasized that there was nothing that could change their sexual orientation, even prayers would fail to change them to become heterosexual.

The grievance letter was anticipated reach Mothers Union’s offices in Gaborone on 13 April.

LeGaBiBo is a Botswana based organization that advocates for the rights of homosexuals in that country.