However, it took awhile but I found it was reprint by another web-site “beta Current”
Asylum for transgender individuals? US say 'yes' to Indonesian case
For the first time, The United States have granted asylum to an Indonesian transsexual as Michelle Saraswati, 42, formerly known as Michael Setiabudi, won her case at the San Francisco Immigration Court in July.
When Saraswati, a graduate from Trisakti University school of architecture, first came to the United States in 1998, she did so as a gay man. She stayed illegally after her work visa expired in 2001 and after her asylum claim as a gay man was rejected in 2005. In August 2006 she was arrested for violation of immigration rules. She appealed and her case was re-opened as a transgender.
Indonesian LGBT activist King Oey acted as an expert trial witness, describing the quality of life of transgender people in Indonesia. He supported Saraswati's case due to the lack of laws and legal recourse for transgender discrimination and limited employment opportunities for transvestites.
Paul Amro Yuwono, a gay Indonesian residing in San Francisco, who helped Saraswati, said that the case could be a wake up call for the Indonesian government to eliminate discrimination and do more to protect sexual minorities: "They are loosing their own talented people. Michelle is an architect and soon she will take up a great job in a design and architecture company. Michelle is only one example There are many Indonesians including GBLT and other minorities that have bailed out from Indonesia and are building a good life here in the United States."
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