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Botswana Trans Initiative

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Botswana Trans Initiative

A human rights organization in Botswana advancing advocacy and the protection of marginalised people

05/09/2026

Inclusion Means ALL of Us

At Botswana Trans Initiative (BTI), we believe that diversity does not exist in separate boxes. People carry multiple identities, experiences and circumstances; and meaningful inclusion means recognising the whole person.

This is why we were proud to collaborate with the Botswana Society for the Deaf (BSD) for an awareness and capacity-building session on LGBTQ+ inclusion, SOGIE, diversity and respectful engagement. BSD’s request was rooted in a commitment to ensuring that people from diverse backgrounds can access services in an environment where they feel respected, valued and free from judgement.

For BTI, this engagement is also a reminder that trans and gender-diverse people can be persons with disabilities, and their experiences of navigating healthcare, social services, workplaces and communities can be shaped by both their gender identity and disability.

That is why we must continue to ask: Are our spaces accessible? Are our services inclusive? Are we listening to people whose experiences are different from our own?

Disability inclusion is trans inclusion. Trans inclusion is disability inclusion.We celebrate the diversity within our communities and continue to champion a Botswana where every person regardless of gender identity, expression, s*x characteristics, disability or other aspects of who they are can access services, participate fully and live with dignity.

Inclusion isn't about making room for some of us. It's about making sure there is room for all of us.

04/09/2026

Ruling of Joinder Applications

Today, the High Court ruled on the joinder applications in the landmark same-s*x marriage matter involving Bonolo Selelo and Tsholofelo Kumile, bringing several additional voices into the proceedings.

The Court has admitted Le****ns, G**s & Bis*xuals of Botswana (LEGABIBO) as the third applicant, while Botswana House of Prayer and Transformation, Dingwetsi Association and the Evangelical Fellowship of Botswana have been admitted as respondents. Dr Onthatile Olerile Moeti has also been admitted as an amicus curiae (a friend of the court).

The applicants are challenging the refusal to register their intended marriage and the constitutionality of provisions of the Marriage Act. The substantive arguments in the matter are scheduled for 22 and 23 October 2026.

As Botswana Trans Initiative (BTI), we stand in support of a process that advances equality, dignity, justice and the protection of human rights for all people.

BTI believes that every person deserves to live with dignity and without discrimination because of who they are or whom they love. We therefore continue to stand with those advancing equality and remain committed to following these proceedings and supporting efforts towards a Botswana where human rights are not conditional on identity, gender or s*xual orientation.

Today was about who gets to be heard in the matter. October will bring the substantive arguments. We will be watching. We will be present. We will continue to stand for equality.

03/09/2026

Have you ever visited a clinic, hospital, pharmacy or another service point and wondered, “Who is listening to my experience?”. That is where maBox comes in.

www.mabox.co.bw is a platform where you can share your experience and give feedback about the services you receive. When you rate a service, you help show what is working and what needs to improve.

Your feedback can help:
- Make service providers hear your experiences.
- Identify problems and gaps in services.
- Track whether services are improving.
- Encourage service providers to be more responsive and accountable.
- Help improve services for you and other community members.

Your rating may feel like a small action but when many people share their experiences, it creates evidence that can support real change.

02/09/2026

Yesterday, Botswana Trans Initiative (BTI) joined the Mogoditshane – Thamaga District community at Mmopane Main Kgotla for the opening of the Month of Prayer, under the 2026 theme: “Let There Be Life”- John 10:10. The gathering brought together community members, government structures and organisations in a shared space of reflection, hope and commitment to the wellbeing of our communities.

For BTI, being present in spaces such as these is an important part of our work. Community engagement is about more than sharing information, it is about building relationships, listening to communities, and ensuring that people know where they can find support and services.

We believe that healthier communities are built through collective action, compassion and inclusion, where everyone is recognised, valued and able to access the support they need.

We are grateful to the Mogoditshane–Thamaga District Multi-Sectoral AIDS Committee (DMSAC) for the invitation and for creating spaces that bring different stakeholders and communities together.

As we begin this month, may the call to “Let There Be Life” remind us of our shared responsibility to protect life, promote wellbeing, extend care to one another, and build communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

01/09/2026

THIS FRIDAY: BACK TO COURT

The journey continues. This Friday, we return to the Gaborone High Court as the Court delivers its ruling on the joinder applications in the Marriage Equality matter.

This is an important moment in determining who will participate in the proceedings as the matter moves towards the substantive hearing.

Venue: Gaborone High Court
Time: 09:00hrs
Date: Friday, 4 September 2026

Come stand with us. Come witness the process. Come be part of the journey towards equality, dignity and justice.

31/08/2026

Learning Together & Growing Together

On Friday, the BTI team stepped away from the usual office routine and into learning mode for an M&E training session, with support from BONELA. Monitoring and Evaluation is an important part of how we understand our work; helping us track progress, learn from our experiences, understand what is working, identify where we can improve, and ensure that the work we do remains responsive to the communities we serve.

But this post isn't just about M&E. It's about the people behind the work. For many of you, this may be your first proper introduction to the faces that make BTI happen behind the scenes. From programmes and advocacy to administration, communications, M&E and everything in between, every person brings something valuable to the work we do.

So, meet the BTI team! A wonderful team, a day of learning, plenty of questions, a few laughs and hopefully a little more confidence in all things M&E. We are constantly learning, growing and finding better ways to do the work.

Here's to the people behind the work, and to getting better at what we do, together.

29/08/2026

Quote of the Week

Sometimes, the most meaningful part of a sensitisation is not what we present, but what people take away from the conversation.

This reflection from one of our sensitisation engagements this week captures the power of creating spaces where people can listen, question, learn, and challenge what they thought they knew. Because meaningful change can begin with something as simple as opening our eyes to what we didn't know before.

We learn. We reflect. We do better.

28/08/2026

We’re grateful to have been part of this important engagement with the Mogoditshane-Thamaga District Council Gender Committee, creating space for learning, dialogue and greater understanding of trans and gender-diverse experiences.

Thank you to the committee members for showing up with open minds and a willingness to learn. We hope the knowledge shared continues beyond the room, into workplaces, communities and service delivery spaces.

When we learn, we can do better. When we do better, we create more inclusive spaces for everyone.

27/08/2026

Building Inclusive Services Starts With Understanding

Earlier, Botswana Trans Initiative hosted a SOGIESC Sensitisation and Dialogue with the Mogoditshane-Thamaga District Council Gender Committee, creating space for learning, reflection and meaningful dialogue on gender inclusion, human rights and service delivery.

The engagement explored S*xual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and S*x Characteristics (SOGIESC), while creating an opportunity for committee members to reflect on whether the services within their respective sectors are truly inclusive. Discussions looked at the experiences of trans and gender-diverse people, existing barriers and gaps, and the role different sectors can play in creating more welcoming and accessible services.

A key message from the Deputy District Commissioner Ms Tlhabologo Mabe was a call for committee members to receive the knowledge shared, put it into practice, and use it to challenge stigma and discrimination. She emphasised that acceptance is critical to effective and inclusive service delivery, and that the knowledge gained can help open doors towards a more inclusive Botswana.

For BTI, conversations like these are not simply about sensitisation, they are about turning knowledge into practice and creating systems where everyone can access services with dignity, respect and without discrimination.

We extend our sincere appreciation to the Mogoditshane–Thamaga District Gender Committee for their openness, participation and willingness to engage in this important conversation. Your commitment to learning and reflection is an important step towards building more inclusive communities and services.

Knowledge opens doors. Acceptance keeps them open. An inclusive Botswana is one where everyone can walk through them.

26/08/2026

Creating Safer More Inclusive Healthcare Spaces

Today, Botswana Trans Initiative brought healthcare providers together for a sensitisation on inclusive and safe healthcare for trans and gender-diverse communities; creating space to learn, reflect, and have honest conversations about what affirming care should look like.

The session explored SOGIESC (S*xual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and S*x Characteristics) and the healthcare experiences of trans and gender-diverse people, including the impact of stigma, discrimination, and unconscious bias within healthcare settings.

Facilitated by Dr Brooks, the conversation also focused on practical ways healthcare providers can strengthen the care and support they provide to trans and gender-diverse communities. Importantly, this session was not about pointing fingers. It was about reflection, learning, and asking how we can do better. Because creating inclusive healthcare requires all of us to examine the systems, practices and experiences that shape how people access and receive care.

As our Executive Director, Refilwe Sputla Mogorosi, reminded us that “inclusive healthcare is not a single intervention. It is an ongoing commitment to improve how people experience the health system.”

Today was one step in that ongoing commitment, to listen, learn, challenge assumptions, and work towards healthcare spaces where every person can access care with dignity, safety and respect.

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Botswana, Independence Avenue
Gaborone

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