LGBT rights in Botswana
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Botswana face legal issues not experienced by non-LGBT citizens. Both female and male same-sex sexual acts have been legal in Botswana since 11 June 2019 after a unanimous ruling by the High Court of Botswana. Despite an appeal by the government, the ruling was upheld by the Botswana Court of Appeal on 29 November 2021.
LGBT rights in Botswana | |
|---|---|
| Status | Legal since 2019 |
| Gender identity | Transgender people are allowed to change legal gender without surgery or hormone therapy |
| Military | Allowed to serve |
| Discrimination protections | Constitutional protections for sexual orientation |
| Family rights | |
| Recognition of relationships | No |
| Adoption | No |
In recent years, the LGBT community has become more visible and accepted among Botswana's population. The Botswana High Court has been at the forefront of LGBT rights in the country. In 2016, it ordered the Government to register Botswana's main LGBT organisation, LEGABIBO, and in 2017 it ruled that transgender people have a constitutional right to change their legal gender. In 2019, it struck down colonial-era laws banning homosexuality, and ruled that "sex", as defined in Section 3 of the Botswana Constitution, should be "generously and purposively interpreted" to include sexual orientation. Employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation has been banned since 2010 in Botswana, making it one of the few African countries to have such protections for LGBT people.
LEGABIBO is the country's main LGBT advocacy group, and promotes awareness and acceptance of LGBT people.