Botswana: Exploring overlapping realities of the LGBTIQ community and disability

Members of the LGBTIQ+ persons living with disabilities in Botswana face double layers of stigma, discrimination and social exclusion.

This article explores the often-overlooked intersection between the LGBTIQ community and people living with disabilities in Botswana, highlighting how overlapping identities shape unique experiences of discrimination, access to rights, mental health, and social inclusion. While both groups face systemic barriers individually, the story centres those who navigate both identities simultaneously, voices that remain largely absent from media, policy, and public discourse. By amplifying lived experiences, the piece underscores the need for more holistic and inclusive approaches to human rights and social justice.

Grounded in interviews with LEGABIBO, the Botswana Council for People Living with Disabilities, mental health experts, parents of LGBTIQ children, and LGBTIQ persons living with disabilities, the article combines advocacy perspectives with deeply human stories. Set against a backdrop of growing visibility for LGBTIQ and disability rights, rising mental health awareness, and existing policy gaps, the story introduces a fresh, intersectional lens. By linking legal frameworks, mental well-being, family dynamics, and resilience, it expands the conversation beyond rights alone to include healing, dignity, and inclusive support systems, contributing to more nuanced and inclusive reporting in Botswana.

View the full YTV clip.