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Churches called to peacefully coexist with LGBTQI community

Friday, December 16, 2022 | 750 Views |

In Botswana where nearly 80% of people identify themselves as Christians, religion permeates society. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI) people face widespread stigma, exclusion and discrimination, including from education, employment and health care. Many LGBTQI persons face targeted physical attacks and extreme violence, sometimes from church members. Mmegi correspondent NNASARETHA KGAMANYANE writes

Oarabile*, a gay man in his early 20s never missed church as a child.

“Once I started opening up about my sexuality, people started looking at me differently. I could see the disgust in their faces. My parents started being ashamed of me. They would ask me why I could not behave like other ‘normal’ boys,” Oarabile said.

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