#News: Botswana Gay Rights Group Wins Legal Recognition

[HuffingtonPost]

GABORONE, Nov 14 (Reuters) - A Botswana judge overturned a  government ban on a gay rights lobbying group on Friday, a rare  victory for African gay rights campaigners on a continent where  homointercourseuality remains highly contentious.                

Justice Terrence Rannoane ruled that the Lesbians, Gays and  Biintercourseuals of Botswana (LEGABIBO) would be allowed to register  and campaign for changes to anti-gay legislation but reiterated  that it was still illegal to engage in homointercourseual acts.                

"In a democratic society such as ours, freedom of  expression, assembly and association are important values duly  protected by our constitution," Rannoane said.                

"The decision to refuse LEGABIBO registration was taken  under the mistaken belief that the applicants intended to engage  in homointercourseual practice, which is a crime," he added.                

The ruling is likely to put pressure on the anti-gay agenda  approved by President Ian Khama's government.                

Khama's government has refused to distribute condoms in  prison, citing the risks of increased homointercourseual acts, a move  strongly opposed by Botswana's HIV and AIDS rights groups.                

The country has one of the world's highest rates of HIV.                

Homointercourseuality remains taboo in many African societies where  some religious groups have branded it a corrupting import from  the West. Nigeria passed a draconian anti-gay law this year and  Uganda is debating similar legislation.     (Reporting by Brian Benza; Writing by Joe Brock Editing by  Jeremy Gaunt)
Source: huffingtonPost