Transgender ruling hailed

Tshepo Kgositau underwent gender confirmation surgery in December 2016 and the Botswana Government has now been ordered to officially recognise her as a female. The High Court ruling legally recognises the gender of a trans woman for the first time, marking a landmark victory for the rights of LGBT people in the country. Kgositau, the director of Gender Dynamix – a regional organisation advocating for the rights of transgender people – told The Independent the victory was only the first step in demanding ‘more access to all other rights’. The trans advocate said she had identified as a woman from an early age and that being marked as male on official documents caused her emotional distress and made her vulnerable to abuse and violence. Known as Ricki by her friends and family, she adds that the court victory is not for her ‘but for every single trans diverse person in Botswana’. The Botswana High Court has been described as progressive since it overturned a decision by the government to ban gay rights lobbying group Legabibo in 2014. It also ordered the government to officially acknowledge and register the organisation in March last year.