Members of Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana on Jan. 15, 2016, gather outside the Botswana Court of Appeals. (Photo courtesy of Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana)
Reuters reported Judge Ian Kirby, president of the Botswana Court of Appeals, upheld a lower court’s 2014 ruling that said Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana should be allowed to register.
Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana have been trying to register with the Botswanan government for more than a decade. Wednesday’s ruling comes nearly two months after the Court of Appeals heard oral arguments in their case.
“The win gives us hope, faith and belief in Botswana’s legal system,” said Caine Youngman of Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana on Wednesday in a press release. “It has been a very long and exhausting 11 years since we first started the journey to have our organization registered.”
LGBT rights advocates across Africa also celebrated the ruling.
Out Right Namibia standing with #LEGABIBO #legabiboregistration pic.twitter.com/W5bmxkpkn5
— LEGABIBO BW (@legabiboadvo) March 16, 2016
Richard Lusimbo of Sexual Minorities Uganda also congratulated Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana.
Congratulations to our family @legabiboadvo for winning the #RegCase. #Equalrights @PanAfricaILGA @theaidsalliance @SMUG2004 @KuchuTimes
— Richard Lusimbo (@richardlusimbo) March 16, 2016
