Botswana Trans Initiative

21/10/2026

Marriage Equality Case: Main Hearing Arguments

The Marriage Equality Case returns to the Gaborone High Court this Thursday and Friday, 22–23 October 2026, for the main hearing arguments.

But what does this mean? Simply put, this is the stage where the parties present their main legal arguments to the court, explaining why they believe the law should or should not recognise the marriage sought by the applicants. The court will consider these arguments before making its decision. No final ruling is expected simply because the hearings are taking place.

📅 22–23 October 2026
⏰ 0900hrs
📍 Gaborone High Court

At the heart of this case are questions of marriage, constitutional rights, equality and legal recognition in Botswana.

Botswana Trans Initiative (BTI) stands in support of the applicants and the broader pursuit of equality, dignity and justice. We encourage our community, allies and members of the public to stay informed and follow this important process.

20/10/2026

Dear Community

Have you ever struggled to access a service or opportunity because the information on your identity documents did not reflect how you live or are recognised?

For some trans and gender-diverse people, identity documents can create challenges when accessing healthcare, applying for employment, pursuing education or interacting with public institutions. These experiences can affect not only access to services but also a person's dignity and sense of belonging.

This week, BTI wants to hear from you. Have you ever faced a challenge because of your identity documents? If you feel comfortable sharing, what happened?

Your story can help inform change. Your voice deserves to be heard. Together, we can work towards a Botswana where everyone can access services with dignity and respect.

19/10/2026

Trans Inclusive Series | A Gender Marker Is Not The Whole Story

Imagine seeking healthcare and having your identity questioned before your health concerns are even heard. For some trans and gender-diverse people, this is a reality that can make accessing healthcare uncomfortable, discouraging or even unsafe.

An identity document may contain certain information, but it does not tell you everything about a person. A person's gender marker should never determine how much respect, dignity or quality of care they receive.

Healthcare workers can help create safer and more inclusive spaces by asking patients how they would like to be addressed, using their correct names and pronouns, protecting their privacy and focusing on their actual health needs rather than assumptions.

To our healthcare providers: a simple question, a respectful conversation and a willingness to listen can make a meaningful difference in someone's experience of care.

And to our trans and gender-diverse community: you deserve healthcare that treats you with dignity and respect. Ask. Listen. Respect. Provide appropriate care.

Because inclusive healthcare is not about making assumptions, it's about recognising the person behind the paperwork.

18/10/2026

ONE COURTROOM. DIFFERENT POSITIONS. A SHARED SPACE.

During the previous proceedings, the applicants stood together as representatives of the respondents, including the Dingwetsi Association of Botswana and the Evangelical Fellowship of Botswana (EFB), were present behind them.

The moment captured a striking contrast between parties with opposing positions in a case that raises important questions about marriage, equality and constitutional rights.

It also reminds us that, even where perspectives differ deeply, people can occupy the same space as the legal process unfolds. These differences must be addressed through the courts, where the arguments and rights at stake can be considered.

This Thursday and Friday, 22–23 October 2026, the matter returns to the High Court in Gaborone for its substantive hearings.

BTI continues to support the applicants and the pursuit of equality, dignity and legal recognition. We remain committed to advocacy that upholds the rights and humanity of trans and gender-diverse people and the wider LGBTIQ+ community.

As the case progresses, we stand for equality, dignity and justice.

15/10/2026

MEET THE TEAM: ERNEY

Meet Ernest, affectionately known as Erney Maphosa, our Peer Monitor for the MaBox Project!

Peer monitors play an important role in connecting community experiences with efforts to improve service delivery. By engaging with community members, gathering feedback and documenting their experiences when accessing services, they help identify what is working, where challenges exist and what needs to change.

Through his work on the MaBox Project, Erney contributes to ensuring that community voices are heard and that people’s experiences become valuable feedback that can inform improvements in the services they use.

Because every experience matters! Whether it’s highlighting a positive interaction or pointing out a gap that needs attention, community feedback can help strengthen accountability and encourage service providers to be more responsive to the people they serve.

At BTI, we believe that communities should not just be recipients of services; they should also have opportunities to share their experiences and contribute to making those services better. And peer monitors like Ernie help make that possible.

13/10/2026

Dear Community

When it comes to creating safer and more inclusive healthcare spaces, who better to guide us than the people who experience these spaces firsthand? This week, we're asking our community: What is one thing a healthcare worker or facility can do to make your experience more comfortable and respectful?

It could be something as simple as using your correct name and pronouns, listening without judgement, protecting your privacy or ensuring you are treated with dignity throughout your visit.

We want to hear from you because your experiences can help us understand what is working, where the gaps exist and what needs to change. Your responses can help inform BTI's advocacy and efforts to promote healthcare services that are responsive to the realities and needs of our community. Tell us in the comments or reach out to us privately if you prefer.

Every voice strengthens our community. Every experience offers an opportunity to learn. And every shared insight can help move us towards better healthcare for all.

12/10/2026

Trans Inclusive Series | Coming Out Is Personal

Coming out can be a significant moment in a trans person's life, but it doesn't look the same for everyone. For some, it may bring relief and a sense of freedom. For others, it may come with uncertainty, fear or concerns about how people will respond.

Here’s what we need to understand: nobody owes the world an explanation of who they are. Being trans does not mean someone has to disclose their identity to family, friends, colleagues, healthcare workers or the public. Everyone deserves the freedom to decide when, how and with whom they share their story.

As allies, friends, families and service providers, our role is not to pressure people to come out. It is to create environments where they feel safe, respected and supported, whether they choose to share their identity or keep it private.

Coming out is a choice, not a test of authenticity. Respect is not conditional on disclosure. Let's reduce stigma through education, respect people's boundaries and allow every trans person to navigate their journey on their own terms.

10/10/2026

💚 World Mental Health Day 💚

Today, we recognise World Mental Health Day and the importance of creating communities where people can speak about their mental health without fear, judgement or stigma.

For trans and gender-diverse people, mental wellbeing can be affected by experiences such as discrimination, rejection, isolation, violence and barriers to accessing safe and affirming support.

But being trans is not a mental illness. The issue is often the environments people are forced to navigate and the lack of safe, supportive spaces around them. Mental health support should be accessible, respectful and affirming. No one should have to hide who they are to receive care, and asking for help should never be seen as a weakness.

Today, we encourage you to check in with yourself and with the people around you. Sometimes, a simple “How are you really doing?” can open the door to a much needed conversation.

You deserve support. You deserve to be heard. You deserve to feel safe.

This World Mental Health Day, let’s work towards communities where mental wellbeing and dignity go hand in hand.

09/10/2026

Did You Know The First Pride Was A Riot?

Before Pride became a celebration of colourful flags, parades and community gatherings, it was rooted in resistance.

On 28 June 1969, LGBTQ+ people and their allies resisted a police raid at the Stonewall Inn in New York City, sparking days of protests known as the Stonewall Uprising. The uprising became a defining moment in the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement, helping energise the fight for equality and visibility.

But what does this have to do with Africa Pride Month?

Africa Pride Month is an opportunity to celebrate the lives, identities, cultures, resilience and contributions of LGBTQ+ people across our continent. It also creates space to acknowledge the struggles our communities continue to face, challenge stigma and discrimination, and recognise the people working towards a future where everyone can live with dignity and safety.

Our African stories are diverse. Our experiences are not all the same. And our Pride is not simply about celebrating who we are; it is also about recognising our history, building solidarity and continuing the work towards equal rights and inclusion.

Pride is both a celebration and a reminder of the work that remains. This Africa Pride Month, we celebrate our communities, honour those who came before us, and recognise those who continue to make space for future generations.

Our identities are African. Our stories are African. Our Pride is African.

08/10/2026

This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we’re sharing an important opportunity with our trans and gender-diverse community.

Journey Of Hope Botswana, through its campaign, is encouraging everyone to take their breast health seriously and make early detection a priority.

🩷 FREE BREAST SCREENING CLINIC
📍 Independence Surgery, Gaborone
📅 Saturday, 10 October 2026

This collaboration is particularly meaningful to our community as Independence Surgery is also the clinic where Dr Dickson and Germaine provide services, making it a familiar healthcare space for some members of our community.

To our trans and gender-diverse community: seize this opportunity! If you have breasts or breast tissue, breast health is part of your healthcare. You don’t have to wait until something feels wrong before getting checked.

We encourage you to attend, ask questions, learn about your breast health and take advantage of the free screening available.

And please don’t keep this information to yourself!Share it with your friends, family and community so that more people can benefit from this opportunity.

Know your body. Take charge of your health. Seize the opportunity. Get checked.

This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Journey of Hope Botswana is running a campaign to create awareness and also prompt each of us to take our breast health in our own hands.

To help you with this, we will be conducting some free breast screening clinics in and around Gaborone. All you have to do is show up!

The first of these clinics is in collaboration with Independence Surgery, Gaborone and takes place this Saturday, 10 October 2026.

Early detection is the best solution, if you already have signs of breast cancer - so please share this with your family, friends and others to help spread the word!