International
Botswana legalizes homosexuality in landmark ruling
Botswana became the latest country to legalize homosexuality on Tuesday which was celebrated by activists as a day of pride, compassion and love.
The High Court rejected sections of Botswana’s penal code punishing gay sex with up to seven years in prison, deeming it unconstitutional.
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The ruling stated that penalizing people for who they are is both disrespectful and discriminatory, and said that the law shouldn’t deal with private acts between consenting adults.
Tuesday’s ruling came less than a month after Kenya’s High Court upheld similar sections of its own penal code in a unanimous ruling that disappointed the country’s vibrant gay community.
The laws prescribe up to 14 years in prison for people convicted of homosexual acts.
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