Early this week the South African parliament made history and passed a bill that ushers in a law that recognizes same sex marriages. This development, the first of its kind in Africa has generated a lot of excitement amongst the gay community and human rights organizations in Botswana.

LEGABIBO, an organization of Gays and lesbians in Botswana has applauded South Africans for passing the law despite the fact that homosexuality and lesbianism remains a taboo in the country.

An exhilarated coordinator of LEGABIBO, Skipa Moepi said the law is long overdue in Botswana. She lameted that their attempts to seek recognition of gays and lesbians have been thwarted as Botswana is said not to be ready for same-sex relationships.

"This is frustrating as homosexuality has always existed in Botswana. We suppressed it because we are such a secretive society," she said. She lamented that they cannot register LEGABIBO because the Constitution does not recognise them. "

It is even difficult for homosexuals to access medical facilities as they are discriminated," she said. Moepi's sentiments have been echoed by the director of Botswana Network of Ethics, Law and AIDS (BONELA), Christine Stegling who emphasised the necessity of passing out a law that recognise gay and lesbian marriages.

She said this would be an indication of Botswana's commitment to human rights and fighting discrimination. Stegling said that her organisation takes a stand against discrimination of people, including on the grounds of sexual orientation. She said they advocate for tolerance and acceptance for the different people who make up Botswana's population. These includes recognising the rights of people identified as non-heterosexual.

"But it is also important to note that the current discrimination and marginalisation faced by the non-heterosexual community needs to be addressed in general, not just the issue of marriage," she said. She warned that if gay people continue to feel marginalised or discriminated, they will not feel comfortable to seek HIV treatment in public health services or the tools that might prevent HIV.

"The strategies to fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic must include everyone, including people of non-heterosexual orientation and recognising their right to equality," said Stegling.

Contrary to Stegling's sentiments, Reverend John Philip is worried that abomination seems to be taking toll in the society. "I'm worried that this might open the floodgates for other sinful acts. Passing such a law might result in requests for group marriages and other weird acts.

In fact, I would not be surprised if tomorrow one might suggest that they should be allowed marry a tree," he said. Phillip is worried that as neighbours of South Africa, Botswana might feel pressured to follow suit and pass a law to legalise same sex relationships.

He called on Batswana to seek their identity and uphold their morals as a nation. He fears that South Africa might have passed the law to be labelled the first country in Africa to legislate for same sex marriages.

"Sometimes keeping up with the so called civilisation can lead people astray," he said. He added that laws allowing same sex marriages clearly indicate that mankind has strayed from the will of God.

Apart from the biblical rejection of such laws, Philip argues that even the biological set up of man kind dictates that a man should marry a woman.

"The body of a man has been designed for a woman and vice versa," said Philip. Jaya Kumar of NIIT abhors the idea of passing laws to allow same sex marriages. She argues that there is no culture that entertains such a practice.

"People should stick to their practices and norms, they should not be swayed by whatever comes their way," she said. She warned Batswana to stay away from such a law and implored them to copy only what is good. Lucy Gaetsewe of Oodi is worried that Botswana might copy what South Africa has done. She detests gay and lesbian marriages and feels that it should not be welcome in any society.

However, Emily Kwapa supports same sex marriages. She argues that whether they are allowed to marry or not, homosexuals shall continue with their relationships.

"Monitoring such people is difficult. We cannot stop them from dating so it is best that we allow them to marry," she said. Keneilwe Kgari shares the same sentiments as Kwape. She feels that society wants to selfishly protect their feelings and that of their families at the expense of gay people.

"In most cases, people are worried about their children whom they fear might copy the practice," she said. Kgari hailed the South African Parliament for passing such a law for same sex marriage. She argued that many people have not chosen to be gay.

"In any case it does not mean that when a majority of people reject an idea, it means that there is something wrong with it," she said.