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Botswana – First lesbian couple to publicly declare their love

Melanie Nathan – Nov 27-2010 First lesbian couple to publicly declare their love
New Lesbian warriors join our brigade against anti-gay and lesbian hate in Africa.  A couple who met through the pages of the newspaper, will today be the first to have come out declaring their love for each other.  Onkemetse Pule, 26, from Mahalapye and Lawrence Kwataka, 24, of Serowe fell in love after meeting through the personals.

“They are soul mates, head over heels in love and courageous enough to have agreed to this interview and become the first lesbian couple in Botswana to publicly declare their love,”  reflects the article in the Newspaper that effected the hookup.

They have been in the relationship for ten months and as they both say: “Have never been happier.” Now they want the world to know that they are two women who have found the ideal partner in one another.

Happily in love

Soft spoken Onkemetse reiterated her lover’s sentiments. “I feel safe in this relationship. I am so content and fulfilled. It is incomparable with being in love with a man.”

Despite the disapproval their open relationship might raise amongst the more conservative and traditional elements of society, the two say they are ready to face the world as long as they have each other. This is an exceedingly brave move for the women who live on a continent with a bevy of  Countries, including neighboring South Africa, voting in last weeks UN Resolution that failed to protect LGBT communities against arbitrary death sentences for being homosexual. Perhaps Botswana is somewhat sheltered though, because by most African standards it is a safe and socially more accepting environment.  Botswana is the landlocked neighbor of South Africa and relies heavily on tourism.  Gaberone is a thriving small capital and has always been a friendly place to visit.  The Tswana people are extraordinarily hospitable and loving people.

The interviewer in he article exudes a delight at the self endorsement  – able to facilitate a gay/ lesbian meet, it touts, “both loyal Voice readers, have the paper to thank for getting them in touch with each other.” “I placed an advert in the ‘Let’s Get Personal’ column last January, and I specified that I was looking for a lesbian mate, and that age did not matter as it was just a number,” said Lawrence. As fate would have it, Pule saw the advert and immediately got in touch. “I sent an SMS and my details to the given code and after a while got her cell number. We then spoke for two days before deciding to meet in Gaborone,” she said.

Breaking the news More can be read here http://www.thevoicebw.com/2010/11/26/glad-to-be-gay/

As an activist for LGBT civil rights in Africa and the USA, and having covered many stories of pain and violence it is a pleasure to stumble upon such a happy story. I am truly concerned though, that the Newspapers zest and excitement does not place these brave young women in harms way.  It is very hard to change the cultural ways.  Botswana has much influence form South Africa where corrective rape is endemic. I really pray for the safety of these women, as some steeped in culture and male entitlement  may not be so agreeable or accepting.

When asked about their future together

Marriage is the next social hurdle the two have plans to take on in the near future. “It’s simply a matter of going to Jozi (inserted Johannesburg)  and signing the document. Early next year we intend to move in and live together, and later in the year get legally married. “It will be a marriage made in heaven,” they say with a giggle and cuddle of contentment.

Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com