Treat us well—Sex workers, LGBTQI+ community
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Tuesday June 27, 2023 06:00
Success Capital hosted a Pride Day commemoration event themed, ‘Human Rights and Sustainable Development’ at the National Museum on Thursday. When addressing the audience, Bettina (a sex worker) who has been in the profession for 16 years also known as Brown Sugar in her circles said they were facing so many challenges including rejection by society.
“I do sex work not only in Botswana but internationally too. It is challenging to be a sex worker. Getting services such as health is hard. When we go ask for condoms we are given just a few but we need as many as possible because of our job. We need 100 or more condoms.
Health workers always mock us when we have STIs { Sexually transmitted infections} and therefore attribute it to us not taking medication well. We are even afraid to seek health services,” she said. She added that they are targeted by thieves and the police alike since they know that they always have money.
Bettina said the community also made life difficult for sex workers as they discriminate against them. She urged people to treat them as they would like to be treated. She said they must look at them like they do to their sisters, aunts, mothers, and cousins instead of treating them like criminals. “We are blamed for bringing STIs and being homewreckers more especially by fellow women. I would advise women to befriend us and ask us how we do it to attract men. We will gladly teach them. I chose my job because I am not educated.
Men gave us children and ran away. I cannot work as a maid because they do not earn enough. I have to feed my children, pay their school fees and also pay my mother’s medical bills. How will I do all of that with P1,500 that maids earn?” she said. She added that nurses needed to be taught on how to deal with sex workers.
She said even though they lived in a small world, people should know that sex workers also exist in it. She also said they needed to be protected too so that the whole nation is protected. For her part, Keamogetse who is a lesbian and a member of Success Capital said she dresses as the community expects her to because she does not want to be discriminated against. She added that she goes to church every Sunday and people do not know that she is a lesbian. She added that the community also treats them badly because they do not understand them.
“Parents prevent their children from befriending us. They say we will teach their children our ways. There is also discrimination at church and we are forced to wear dresses instead of wearing what we feel comfortable in. Some lesbians are still in the closet,” Keamogetse said. “Get out of that closet and be proud of who you are,” she encouraged.