Comments on: Growing Up Gay In Botswana http://www.queerty.com/growing-up-gay-in-botswana-20080306/ Free of an agenda. Except that gay one. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:49:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Liesl Theron http://www.queerty.com/growing-up-gay-in-botswana-20080306/#comment-44986 Liesl Theron Mon, 17 Mar 2008 12:49:20 +0000 http://www.queerty.com/growing-up-gay-in-botswana-20080306/#comment-44986 I understand the disappointment and mixed emotions when reading the comments (and the article) - as I experienced some of it myself. That being said, I want to add, to fully grasp the article in its fullest context, one has to understand how gay/ lesbian/ homosexual/ trans and all other "labels" are being used or not used in Africa. The biggest mistake a person can make is to wear Western lenses when reading African articles on the topic. In most African countries there is law against homosexuality, mostly acts like the penal code, laws against sodomy etc. What people don't realise is, these laws are implemented for any person in the LGBTIQ coninuum. In other words a transsexual person (even if the person is for example a hetero mtf) will be punished by the same laws. I used this example of the legal system to try and explain, that basically throughout the continent their is no difference between sexual orientation and gender identity. (Obviously there is people who views it as 2 seperate issues) - The mere fact that a person identify and uses the label of gay, lesbian or trans does not automatically mean they use it in the same way as in Western cultures. It challenges awareness, advocacy, activism and education work in very extreme ways. I am writing from an organisation, called Gender DynamiX - currently the only registered organisation in Africa, working on trans Human Rights issues. I understand the disappointment and mixed emotions when reading the comments (and the article) – as I experienced some of it myself. That being said, I want to add, to fully grasp the article in its fullest context, one has to understand how gay/ lesbian/ homosexual/ trans and all other “labels” are being used or not used in Africa.

The biggest mistake a person can make is to wear Western lenses when reading African articles on the topic.

In most African countries there is law against homosexuality, mostly acts like the penal code, laws against sodomy etc. What people don’t realise is, these laws are implemented for any person in the LGBTIQ coninuum. In other words a transsexual person (even if the person is for example a hetero mtf) will be punished by the same laws.

I used this example of the legal system to try and explain, that basically throughout the continent their is no difference between sexual orientation and gender identity. (Obviously there is people who views it as 2 seperate issues) – The mere fact that a person identify and uses the label of gay, lesbian or trans does not automatically mean they use it in the same way as in Western cultures.

It challenges awareness, advocacy, activism and education work in very extreme ways.

I am writing from an organisation, called Gender DynamiX – currently the only registered organisation in Africa, working on trans Human Rights issues.

]]> By: Val Kalende http://www.queerty.com/growing-up-gay-in-botswana-20080306/#comment-44703 Val Kalende Fri, 14 Mar 2008 17:34:03 +0000 http://www.queerty.com/growing-up-gay-in-botswana-20080306/#comment-44703 This article should have been a moving-story. But the writer keeps making careless mistakes of pronoun misusage albeit poor diction. Nonetheless,i think the good activist is a force and an inspiration to reckon with on this continent. I am proud to know her. This article should have been a moving-story. But the writer keeps making careless mistakes of pronoun misusage albeit poor diction.
Nonetheless,i think the good activist is a force and an inspiration to reckon with on this continent.
I am proud to know her.

]]> By: M Shane http://www.queerty.com/growing-up-gay-in-botswana-20080306/#comment-44485 M Shane Thu, 13 Mar 2008 16:49:31 +0000 http://www.queerty.com/growing-up-gay-in-botswana-20080306/#comment-44485 Sokari: Because I've worked in a surgical unit that did sex chage operations and have considerable graduate work in the regard of gender I'm not inclined toward any special prejudice. The article itself is ambiguous as to what "gay" means and further difficult because there seems to be an undiscussed difference between what westerners regard as "gay" and what they do in Botswana. Sorry if i'm not wandering though this the way that you would like. Sokari: Because I’ve worked in a surgical unit that did sex chage operations and have considerable graduate work in the regard of gender I’m not inclined toward any special prejudice.
The article itself is ambiguous as to what “gay” means and further difficult because there seems to be an undiscussed difference between what westerners regard as “gay” and what they do in Botswana.
Sorry if i’m not wandering though this the way that you would like.

]]> By: sokari http://www.queerty.com/growing-up-gay-in-botswana-20080306/#comment-44413 sokari Thu, 13 Mar 2008 10:38:41 +0000 http://www.queerty.com/growing-up-gay-in-botswana-20080306/#comment-44413 Added to Jonathan's comment which I agree with, is the use of the word "gabs" to describe Prisca talking about his life story! Shane @ you are using your own western measuring stick here "I’m not sure that it’s terribly fair to adress them initially as a “gay ” person, until they had made a surgical adjustment." surgical adjustment requires funds that Prisca may never have so does that mean he can never be seen as a "gay" person. Prisca is whatever he identifies as and not what you or I prescribe for him based on Western definitions. Added to Jonathan’s comment which I agree with, is the use of the word “gabs” to describe Prisca talking about his life story!

Shane @ you are using your own western measuring stick here “I’m not sure that it’s terribly fair to adress them initially as a “gay ” person, until they had made a surgical adjustment.” surgical adjustment requires funds that Prisca may never have so does that mean he can never be seen as a “gay” person. Prisca is whatever he identifies as and not what you or I prescribe for him based on Western definitions.

]]> By: Jonathan Boland http://www.queerty.com/growing-up-gay-in-botswana-20080306/#comment-43684 Jonathan Boland Sat, 08 Mar 2008 20:18:48 +0000 http://www.queerty.com/growing-up-gay-in-botswana-20080306/#comment-43684 I'm disappointed in the way this article was written with ignorance in regards to trans people. This article is disrespectful to the Skipper's identity. The person in this article identifies as a man. Therefore, the correct pronouns to use are he and him. Also, lesbian is a term used for gay women. This person is a man, so the term is not appropriate. If Skipper is attracted to men, then he's gay, if he's attracted to women, he's straight. I hope the writer of this article reads up on issues facing trans issues, and that the ignorance stops with this article. I’m disappointed in the way this article was written with ignorance in regards to trans people. This article is disrespectful to the Skipper’s identity.

The person in this article identifies as a man. Therefore, the correct pronouns to use are he and him.

Also, lesbian is a term used for gay women. This person is a man, so the term is not appropriate. If Skipper is attracted to men, then he’s gay, if he’s attracted to women, he’s straight.

I hope the writer of this article reads up on issues facing trans issues, and that the ignorance stops with this article.

]]> By: M Shane http://www.queerty.com/growing-up-gay-in-botswana-20080306/#comment-43403 M Shane Thu, 06 Mar 2008 21:22:25 +0000 http://www.queerty.com/growing-up-gay-in-botswana-20080306/#comment-43403 The title to this article is misleading and perhaps even incorrect. The story is about a person who is has a genuine gender dysphoria based on exhibiting physical characteristics of both sexes. I think that the issues would apply to many transgenders-in this case the individual has sexual features of both sexes. consequently, I'm not sure that it's terribly fair to adress them initially as a "gay " person, until they had made a surgical adjustment. a gay person would have the opposite sexs' desires only. In this case the person has to live in a society which applies a different set of oppressions than those applied to a gay person here. In Botswana transexuals are called "gay "but not here.(I don't know if there is a translation issue here or not.) Once he/she determined what sex seemed best and changed they could be gay or heterosexual (by our standards). The title to this article is misleading and perhaps even incorrect. The story is about a person who is has a genuine gender dysphoria based on exhibiting physical characteristics of both sexes. I think that the issues would apply to many transgenders-in this case the individual has sexual features of both sexes.
consequently, I’m not sure that it’s terribly fair to adress them initially as a “gay ” person, until they had made a surgical adjustment.
a gay person would have the opposite sexs’ desires only. In this case the person has to live in a society which applies a different set of oppressions than those applied to a gay person here.
In Botswana transexuals are called “gay “but not here.(I don’t know if there is a translation issue here or not.) Once he/she determined what sex seemed best and changed they could be gay or heterosexual (by our standards).

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