Vivian Rubianti

Vivian Rubiyanti Iskandar (born January 1, 1944; middle name also spelled Rubianti and Rubianty ) is the first trans person legally recognised by the Indonesian courts as their true gender.

Early life Born on January 1, 1944, to Khan Kiam Lee and Auw Roontji Nio, Vivian was a Chinese citizen at birth. Owing to the Sino-Indonesian Dual Nationality Treaty, she relinquished her Chinese nationality and her birth name "Khan Kok Hian" in favour of an Indonesian identity, adopting the name "Iwan Robyanto Iskandar". Afterward, she returned to Indonesia and petitioned the for a legal change of gender. There had previously been no Indonesian law concerning legal changes of gender. Her attorney, Adnan Buyung Nasution of Jakarta Legal Aid, argued that the absence of such a law did not restrict her right to seek this redress. in pursuance of that, Darmaputera threw the support of the Christian church behind her. The Islamic scholar Buya Hamka also testified in support of Vivian, saying that "[her desire to transition] does not run contrary to Allah's law, but in keeping with the teachings of Islam, which hold the advances of humankind's science ought to be used to improve the lives of human beings". In 1975, she married Felix Rumayar in Jakarta, solemnised under the rites of the Catholic Church. Her wedding was attended by several notables, including then-Governor of Jakarta Ali Sadikin. Her marriage to Rumayar eventually failed, and she elected to immigrate to Australia.

Filmography