Botswana

In the last 10 years, Botswana has made significant progress toward LGBTIQ equality, largely thanks to the work of activists and the progressiveness of Botswana’s High Court. Employment discrimination based on sexual orientation was banned in 2010, and in 2014, the High Court ruled that the country’s Civil and National Registration Department had to register the LGBTIQ organization LEGABIBO. In 2017, the High Court recognized a transgender man’s right to change his legal gender markers. In 2019, the same court overturned the country’s sodomy laws, a decision that the Court of Appeals upheld in 2021. In response, the government tried to appeal this ruling, but the appeal was rejected by the courts in 2021. In terms of public opinion, one poll suggested that 44 percent of people in Botswana would accept having a gay neighbor, and recently, LGBTIQ people in Botswana have received more social acceptance. However, they continue to face stigmatization, harassment, violence, and discrimination.

*Outright research indicates that the bodily autonomy of intersex people is not respected and protected in this country.