'Beyond the Rainbow': Broader LGBTI issues in Botswana

Colin Stewart is a 45-year journalism veteran living in Southern…

Official opening of LeGaBiBo's drop-in center was attended by U.S. Ambassador Earl R. Miller. — The official opening of LeGaBiBo’s drop-in center included the ribbon-cutting by U.S. Ambassador Earl R. Miller.

Dozens of people gathered in Gaborone in mid-July for discussions of the LGBTI community and its relationship to business and work environments, ageism, and artists confronting discrimination.

The panel discussions, labeled “Beyond the Rainbow,” ran for two days. They were organized by the Botswanan LGBTI rights group LeGaBiBo.

One day before the event began, LeGaBiBo also opened a Drop-in Centre. According to the organisation, the centre aims to “increase demand for and uptake of targeted comprehensive HIV prevention, treatment, care and support for LGBTI people, MSM [men who have sex with men] and WSW [women who have sex with women] and raise awareness on sexual and reproductive health rights services.” A further goal is to locate safe spaces for LGBTI people that can “enable movement building.”