Media practitioners urged to humanise LGBTQI+ stories :: Mmegi Online

In a significant step toward fostering more inclusive and ethical journalism, Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana (LEGABIBO) hosted a media sensitisation workshop in Gaborone under its 'Lorato ke Lorato' campaign. The workshop brought together journalists and other media practitioners to discuss marriage equality, constitutional rights, ethical reporting and the media’s pivotal role in shaping public discourse on LGBTI+ issues.

The workshop reflected Botswana’s evolving landscape on LGBTI+ rights. Since the landmark 2019 High Court ruling decriminalising consensual same sex acts, upheld by the Court of Appeal in 2021 and followed by the formal repeal of colonial-era penal code provisions, the country has made notable strides, yet societal attitudes often lag, with media coverage frequently cited as a double-edged sword that can either challenge stereotypes or perpetuate them.

LEGABIBO’s CEO, Nozizwe Ntesang, highlighted the workshop’s core purpose: media sensitisation training for media practitioners, journalists, and other stakeholders with an interest in the media. “Every democracy is only as strong as the freedom of its media... media helps to bridge the gap between the perceptions of people,” she said while emphasising the media’s foundational role in democracy.

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