In theory, homosexuality is legal in Botswana, but it does not match people's life experiences.
In the tranquil HarborOne, Vukile Dlwati meets a rainbow of veritable gay, bisexual and transgender people who, despite suffering in the workplace, police, Church
And the health care system.
When you land at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport in HarborOne, there is a sense of tranquility, which is quite different from the chaos of OR Tambo in Joburg.
Outside the airport, there seems to be a paved landscape of paradise tooback people.
Pula in Botswana is stronger than rand, where crime rates are much lower than in South Africa.
There is the death penalty, but citizens generally enjoy basic human rights, a fair amount of free education, employment bills that do not allow discrimination, free health care and fewer ethnic conflicts.
But what if you're gay?
After a rough look at Google, it was found that it is legal to publicly identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or heterosexual in Botswana (LGBTI)
But your sex life is a crime.
Article 164 of the country's Criminal Code provides that "any person who violates the knowledge of carnal desires of natural order" can be sentenced to up to seven years' imprisonment.
"Sometimes it feels like you're in heaven, sometimes it feels like you're in jail.
"When the sun enters the outskirts of harboronet, it is baking in a taxi.
No sign outside the double-
Stolihouse said that we have reached the office of the outspoken propaganda group Botswana lesbian, gay and bisexual (Legabibo).
There are different pictures inside.
Upstairs, sitting opposite the manager of Caine Youngman, I asked about the contradictions in the law, which is quite common in the whole continent.
In simple English, he says, anyone involved in sex that does not involve a penis or vagina is guilty of criminal offences.
"The criminal code is considered a law against homosexuality," he frowned . ".
"According to conservative social norms, it is unthinkable for heterosexual couples to like anal sex, oral sex or use sex toys, and therefore there is no reason to believe that they will do anything against the" natural order.
He said: "Botswana is a mysterious country . . . . . . Problems like this have not been solved . ".
The criminal code breeds more secrets, stigma and victims in the LGBT community.
There is a general need to avoid stigma among families, workplaces and the state.
"Take nurses as an example," Kane said . ".
"They have a wrong interpretation of the law . . . . . . They believe that the provision of health care services to us, thanks to the criminal code, makes them complicit in breaking the law.
"Or at work-once you take your affairs to court and seek justice, you will basically become unemployable.
Botswana has been slow to change and problems in the LGBTI community have often led to mental illness, drug abuse and alcohol abuse, the activist said.
"Sometimes it feels like it's in heaven, sometimes it feels like it's in prison, sometimes it's dizzy," he said, touching his impeccable touch in pain.
"You're not special here, but abuse is special for you.
After spending some time with animated Katlego Kolanyane
Kesupile, I was not surprised that our conversation was often interrupted by the people who stopped to meet her.
"Oh, everyone knows everyone very well in HarborOne," she said . " She fixed the bold chestnut Panama hat and neatly refused praise.
Kat is known to be an "artivist" because she uses art to advocate for the rights of LGBTI Africans.
One thing you have to know about her is that she will not leave the house without sunglasses because as a transgender she will be subject to a lot of optical violence.
"The people of Botswana are very passive --
She said during drinks at Europa, a shopping center in HarborOne.
But she's not just being stared at, people threaten her verbally.
I asked her about the criminal law, and she snorted: "You may be the one who is gay here, but since you are gay, you are still a criminal in their eyes, because you want to have sex in some way . . . . . . You are protected as a citizen, but only if you are a special citizen
Since the age of eight, Kate has believed that she is a girl, and she will develop physically into a woman.
"Contrary to all the intelligence in my head, when I enter puberty, my body should grow my chest. . .
"But I am in this body and I realize that the world's expectations for my body are different from my expectations for the body.
Society is particularly cruel to transgender people, she said: "You are not special here, but abuse is special to you.
"There is no hate crime legislation, so it is difficult to report, for example, physical violence rooted in some kind of hatred, such as trans-sex or homophobic," she said.
Every transgender person in Botswana is entitled to free, high-quality health care, but transgender people will make this situation more difficult and your presence will decrease as you transition
"What do we think about trans women who need to go to prostate check? ” she asks.
"Surgery to confirm gender is not done to remove the prostate-you still have the prostate, but you have a vaginal forming surgery.
"Does that mean you don't do a prostate test?
What happens when a transgender man needs a cervical examination?
"We still think that cervical cancer is something for women.
But cervical cancer is for people with cervical cancer.
Who is the man, who is the woman?
"I will hear similar stories from many people I interviewed in the sultry city, its main street to pan-
African liberation hero
Back in the Legabibo office, the skinny young volunteer advocate said that the last place he wanted to go as a gay was the hospital because when he went with his partner to test HIV, he got it from the medical staff.
"In hospitals, we are often asked wrong questions, such as: when was the last time you had sex with a woman?
The public health space is very un-uniform and you can't open it.
"For him, it sparked his interest because he had been trying for years to accept that he was gay and then finally came to the side of his grandmother who raised him.
"It's really confusing to pretend to be straight . . . . . . I am volunteering here because I am willing to serve people who may experience what I have experienced.
Legabibo helped him see people like him.
But being a "normal" gay man is full of fear.
The police are as bad as the nurses, he said.
He recalled that in an argument when things began to become violent, he had to report his boyfriend at the police station.
He has to state to the police that the police want to know about his relationship with his boyfriend
Because he took part in a local fashion show that day.
"They started questioning why my boyfriend was wearing cosmetics.
Dressed like a woman.
Who is the man, who is the woman?
It was a terrible experience.
"I joined Romeo Amé kaihiltille, a fellow outreach worker at Legabibo who has always known that he is gay.
He said the people in his village and high school had insulted him for that.
Confident 21-said: "Today, I laugh at those who call my name, or those who say we are cursed and we are not normal . "year-
Senior students in nutrition and nutrition
He said that in his life he has experienced people using their religious and cultural beliefs to justify their homophobia.
"I went to church and people didn't say anything about my sexual orientation, but preaching can be very homophobic . . . . . . "But God loves me and I believe he created me to be myself.
Even though it may be considered a crime to do so, I kissed my boyfriend in public.
"Why can straight kiss, we can't?
He asked with provocation.
Seeing Rudolph "I was afraid to undress in front of the nurse.
"Rudolf was not safe to use his real name in our interview.
When I met him at the bar, he was eager to introduce me to his girlfriend for 7 years.
He spoke frankly, wearing a chestnut T-shirt.
Shirts, black leggings and stylish Louis Vuitton shoes, however, his eyes nervously looked at anyone sitting behind us throughout the conversation.
"I'm a cross-human Motswana.
I was a female at birth but was considered a male.
That's me, "said Rudolf, who doesn't like anyone calling him her.
Rudolf turned to start a business because he said that although the Employment Act of Botswana prohibits discrimination based on gender, race and sexual orientation, transgender people face discrimination and stigma in the job market.
It sounds good on paper, he says, but it doesn't work in reality.
"I know I didn't cut jobs for many jobs because I was discriminated against because of gender," he said . ".
"First of all, my ID card says I'm a woman, but I showed in the interview that I'm a male --up.
The same is true in the clinic: "I remember one time a nurse was taking care of me because of my appearance and she always referred to me as 'Mr '.
She wanted to check me out.
I dare not undress in front of her.
Rudolph tied his breasts up as a man.
"I had to remove the top of the muscle and the nurse said as soon as he took it off, 'Wait, I'm back!
Rudolf did not know that she would call her colleagues and laugh with her at him for "pretending" to be a man.
"I was the laughing stock of the clinic and I decided to leave," he said . ".
"No one here gave sh * t!
This place makes us very comfortable.
"Before I left Botswana, after being told that it was a safe space for the gay community in harboroné, I visited a nightclub called Zoom.
I met Lady killer here.
Well, it's hard for her to miss.
Her gorgeous dance moves, eyebrow circles and striking tribal tattoos on her right arm are all vying for attention.
Ms. Killer, a personal fitness trainer who has defended LGBTI rights for eight years in Botswana, is eager to chat. “Come!
She insisted on bringing me from the dance floor and the exciting neon lights to a quiet room full of men playing the pool.
The killer lady says her biggest setback is that it's hard to find a safe job because she's openly lesbian.
At Zoom, she can forget it all.
"We can do anything here.
No one here gave sh * t!
This place makes us very comfortable.
She said her opposite sex colleague at Zoom was just "not mind ".
In fact, one characteristic of Botswana is its tolerance, and according to her, the law does not match the true identity of the people of haborone in their hearts. .
This series on the lives of lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in Africa is made possible by working with another foundation.
To learn more about its work, visit other foundations.