Botswana: I failed to be straight

I was raised by an extended family where being different was not welcomed. Being myself was often questioned, judged, or dismissed. From a young age, I learned that anything outside the norm made people uncomfortable, and that discomfort usually turned into pressure to behave a certain way, to hide parts of myself, and to pretend to be someone I wasn’t. 

Eventually, I reached a point where I needed help to understand myself and regain my strength. I decided to go for counseling, and that changed everything. Through therapy, I was introduced to supportive networks like Friends of Diversity, where I found people who understood me and reminded me that I was not alone. These connections helped rebuild my confidence and allowed me to start living my life more freely. 

With time, I gained the courage to speak up and begin educating my family and community about the LGBTIQ+ community. I realised that silence only makes ignorance stronger and that my voice, even if shaky at first, had power. I started to believe deeply in something simple but important: it’s okay to be different. 

But the challenges are still very real. I face judgment, stigma, abuse, and discrimination from my community. Being LGBTIQ+ in my environment often means carrying the burden of misunderstanding and rejection. Still, I remind myself of this truth: I am not wrong for being different. 

My hope for the future is clear. I want to see a community where LGBTIQ+ people can exist openly, safely, and without fear, a community where difference is not a reason for rejection but a reminder of our shared humanity. I dream of a society that embraces diversity instead of punishing it, a place where no one is forced to “fail” at being something they never were to begin with.