Botswana is both modern urban and simple rural, rich and poor, prosperous and challenged with both an anti-gay law and a playful gay community that breathes freely. The progressive gay organization LeGaBiBo is leading the way to a better future.
Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966. The economy, closely tied to South Africa’s, and one of the most successful in Africa, is dominated by the fast-growing service sector, world-renowned mining (especially diamonds) industry, tourism, and manufacturing. On June 11, 2019 Botswana’s High Court announced that gay sex was no longer illegal.
Name: Botswana
Population: 2000000
Capital: Gaborone - Pop. 185000
Area: 581730 sq. km/ sq. miles
Language: English, Setswana
Religion: Indigenous beliefs, Christian
Status of Homosexuality: Illegal
Telephone Country Code: 267
Botswana president speaks up for LGBTI rights, 2019/Jan/23
Gays, Lesbians look up to Masisi, 2018/Dec/07
Canaries in the coal mines, 2018/Jun/14
The War on Homosexuality: A look to Botswana, 2016/Feb/04
Gay men reluctant to come out of the closet, 2015/Mar/23
LGBTI Organizations, 2014/Nov/14
Proud Healthy, 2014/Jul/28
Growing Up Gay In Botswana, 2014/Mar/06
Africa: Few Programmes Target Gay Men, Other MSM and Transgendered in Southern Africa, Study Says, 2013/Jun/04
The Bite Behind The Bark Of Homophobia, 2012/Nov/14
Homophobia hurting anti-AIDS campaigns in Africa, 2011/Dec/29
Bonela reiterates call for legalising sex work, 2011/Dec/05
Gay Botswana News & Reports 2011, 2011/Feb/08
Gay Botswana News & Reports 2004-10, 2009/Jan/01