Caine Youngman

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Caine Youngman
Born
Francistown, Botswana
OccupationHuman rights activist
OrganizationLEGABIBO
Known forWork in the LGBT rights movement in Botswana
Websitecaineyoungman.com

Caine Youngman (born in Francistown[1]) is a human rights activist and member of the LGBT rights movement in Botswana.[2] He first gained international attention in 2011 when he tried to overturn the country's ban on same-sex relations.[3][4] He worked for human rights group LEGABIBO (Lesbians, Gays & Bisexuals of Botswana) until December 2022 and served on the board of Pan Africa ILGA, the regional chapter of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association.[5][6]

Youngman was involved in court cases forcing the Botswana government to legally register LEGABIBO and to decriminalise consensual same-sex relations.[7][8]

Activism[edit]

Youngman joined LEGABIBO in 2005, where he was the head of policy and legal advocacy.[9] He left the organisation in 2022 to move abroad.[5] He has been involved in strategic litigation efforts to improve the legal situation of LGBT people in Botswana. In 2009 he announced a lawsuit to challenge Botswana's ban of consensual same-sex relations, which was filed in 2011 but then withdrawn to collect additional information for a higher chance of success.[10][11][12] When an evangelical group compared homosexuality to incest and the deputy speaker of Botswana's National Assembly called gay people "demonic and evil", Youngman criticized these statements as "disrespectful, hateful and ignorant".[13][14][15] He criticised that gay people were marginalised and intimated during meetings for Botswana's constitutional review process in 2022.[16]

In a court case forcing the Botswana government to register LEGABIBO in 2014, he was among the litigants and described the government's refusal as a violation of their "rights to equality, freedom of expression and freedom of assembly and association."[17][7] The government had refused to register the group for nine years.[2] Through LEGABIBO, Youngman was involved in the Botswana High Court case that decriminalised consensual same-sex relations in 2019.[18] The case was seen as a landmark ruling with relevance for other African countries.[8][19][20][21] Youngman criticized the attorney general when the state appealed the court decision.[22]

In a live radio debate in 2016, American pastor Steven Anderson verbally attacked Youngman for his sexual orientation and called on the Botswana government to kill homosexuals.[23] After the broadcast, then-president Ian Khama ordered Anderson's deportation for hate speech.[24] At an event with U.S. ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell, Youngman called on the United States to stop American evangelical pastors in Africa from "pushing our governments to either enforce sodomy laws or toughen them up and have the death penalty as a law for the LGBTI (community)."[25]

Youngman believes that local LGBT activism must not be overshadowed by foreign donors.[18][26] In his activism, he uses Setswana expressions for English terms like sexual orientation and works with representatives from across society, including religious leaders and traditional chiefs.[27][28] He served on the board of Pan-Africa ILGA, the regional chapter of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, and is a trustee for The Other Foundation.[6][29] In 2016, he was featured on the BBC World News programme "Working Lives".[30]

Personal life[edit]

Youngman realised he was gay in primary school.[1] Many relatives learned about his sexual orientation when he announced his lawsuit in 2009. He has stated that he always felt supported by his Catholic family.[18][31] He got married outside Botswana in 2019 and left the country in 2022.[32][5]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Mooka, Yvonne (4 September 2018). "'I am gay to the core'". The Midweek Sun. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  2. ^ a b "LEGABIBO's court victory- what's next? Caine Youngman speaks to lifestyle". Sunday Standard. 24 November 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  3. ^ Andrew, Mike (11 March 2011). "Gay activist sues Botswana over anti-Gay law". Seattle Gay News. Vol. 39, no. 10. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  4. ^ Akanji, Olajide; Epprecht, Marc (1 October 2013). Nyeck, S.N.; Epprecht, Marc (eds.). "Human Rights Challenge in Africa: Sexual Minority Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights". Sexual Diversity in Africa: Politics, Theory, and Citizenship. Montreal & Kingston, London, Ithaca: McGill-Queen's University Press: 29.
  5. ^ a b c "Social Justice Activist of the Year". The Midweek Sun. 21 December 2022. p. 11.
  6. ^ a b "Press Release: Pan Africa ILGA Hosts a Regional Conference In Kenya 2014". International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association. 4 July 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Botswana gay rights group wins landmark case". BBC News. 14 November 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  8. ^ a b "Gefeiert und getanzt". Der Spiegel. 15 June 2019. p. 75.
  9. ^ "Caine Youngman". Vimeo (Interview). 1 May 2012.
  10. ^ "Gay group challenges Botswana sodomy law". IOL. 30 April 2009. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  11. ^ "Sodomy lawsuit stirs debate on gays in Botswana". TimesLIVE. 16 March 2011. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  12. ^ Achieving an AIDS-Free Generation for Gay Men and Other MSM in Southern Africa. amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research & Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. 2013. p. 37.
  13. ^ Butale, Biggie (2 February 2011). "EFB aganist [sic] legalisation of homosexuality and prostitution". Mmegi. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  14. ^ "Botswana MP says he hates gays and lesbians". PinkNews. 11 February 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  15. ^ Youngman, Caine (18 February 2011). "Does God love me? I am gay". Mmegi. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  16. ^ Molelo, Laone (27 June 2022). "LGBTQ say Constitutional Review Committee sidelines them". Sunday Standard. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  17. ^ "Court of Appeal to rule on LEGABIBO registration". Sunday Standard. 17 March 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  18. ^ a b c Fleischmann, Anne (15 June 2019). "Homosexuelle hoffen nach Entkriminalisierung auf "friedliches" Leben". Euronews. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  19. ^ Chappell, Bill (11 June 2019). "Botswana's High Court Rules Homosexuality Is Not A Crime". NPR. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  20. ^ "Botswana's High Court rejects laws criminalising homosexuality". Al Jazeera. 11 June 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  21. ^ Tabengwa, Monica; Waites, Matthew (2020). Bosia, Michael J.; McEvoy, Sandra M.; Rahman, Momin (eds.). "Africa and the Contestation of Sexual and Gender Diversity: Imperial and Contemporary Regulation". The Oxford Handbook of Global LGBT and Sexual Diversity Politics. Oxford University Press.
  22. ^ Benza, Brian (6 July 2019). "Botswana seeks to overturn ruling that legalized gay sex". Reuters. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  23. ^ Collison, Carl (23 September 2016). "'Kill the gays' pastor Steven Anderson faces backlash from LGBTI activists". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  24. ^ Cropley, Ed; Motsoeneng, Tiisetso (20 September 2016). "Botswana deports U.S. pastor Steven Anderson over anti-gay views". Reuters. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  25. ^ Lavers, Michael K. (31 July 2019). "U.S. Embassy in Germany hosts meeting with LGBTI activists". Washington Blade. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  26. ^ "The Long, Successful Fight to Decriminalise Same-Sex Relations in Botswana". LSVD Blog. 18 July 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  27. ^ "Botswana is a rainbow nation". Gender Links. 20 June 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  28. ^ Lesidi, Bashi. "When who looks like Ms. Do Right is actually Mr. Do Wrong". The Patriot on Sunday. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  29. ^ "Our Trustees". The Other Foundation. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  30. ^ "Working Lives Gaborone: Caine Youngman". BBC News (Video). 2 September 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  31. ^ "Dare to be different". Sunday Standard. 14 March 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  32. ^ Shaya (29 November 2019). "Young love". The Voice. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
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