Botswana: Upcoming films will tell LGBTI stories

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

Caine Youngman, coordinator of Legabibo (Photo courtesy of the Botswana Gazette) — Caine Youngman, coordinator of Legabibo, celebrated in 2014, when the High Court ordered the Botswanan government to grant LeGaBiBo official recognition. The government has since appealed that ruling. (Photo courtesy of the Botswana Gazette)

Activists struggling for recognition of the human rights of LGBTI people are increasingly adopting the strategy of sharing people’s stories, which honors LGBTI people’s efforts and helps the wider society understand what’s at stake in their struggle.

Examples of this strategy include Kuchu Times in Uganda (“Our voices, our stories, our lives”) and the No Strings podcast in Nigeria. (“It chronicles the struggles, tells the stories, and as well captures and reports issues concerning the lives of LGBTIQ Nigerians.”)

The newest example comes from LeGaBiBo, the organization of Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana. Its goal is “To make this continent a safe place for LGBTI people to live their lives and enjoy their natural human rights.”

LeGaBiBo is collecting stories of LGBTI people in Botswana that will be used in a series of documentaries and short films that will be screened at the Batho Ba Lorato film festival and across the region. For the past three years, LeGaBiBo has presented the multi-day film festival at the University of Botswana in Gaborone, Botswana.

This is LeGaBiBo’s announcement of the project, which seeks stories about “love, family, coming out/not coming out, friends, bullying, work experience etc.”:

A Call for Botswana LGBTI Stories!

Nations with anti-LGBT laws: 50% Muslim, 44% Christian

Logo of LeGaBiBo (Lesbians, Gays, and Bisexuals of Botswana)

LEGABIBO is embarking in an initiative to allow LGBTI persons to tell their stories. Stories about love, family, coming out/not coming out, friends, bullying, work experience etc; it could be about anything. These stories will be made into a series of documentaries and short films which will be screened at the Batho Ba Lorato film festival and across the region. It will also be used to aid in raising awareness and tackling stigma and discrimination.

Please note that the stories will be recorded on video or voice recorder – the option is yours. Discretion is taken very serious and if you do not want to identified but still want to tell your story it still is possible. We can hide your identity while you share your story.

If you have further questions or are interested in participating please do not hesitate to contact us, or call/text/WhatsApp LEGABIBO at +267 71 340 794/ +267 393 2517.