Story: Gender diversity

Eliana’s story

Eliana Rubashkyn was born in Colombia with an intersex variation. Assigned at birth to be male, she later transitioned to be a woman. In South America intersex and trans people are often misunderstood and mistreated. After extremely difficult years in Colombia and in Asia, she became the first trans person officially recognised by the United Nations, which required she always be treated as a female. Accepted by New Zealand as a refugee in 2014, she worked as a scientist, advocated for the rainbow community and married. Watch Eliana tell her story in this Human Rights Commission video.

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Human Rights Commission - Te Kāhui Tika Tangata

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How to cite this page:

Johanna Schmidt, 'Gender diversity - Diverse sex development', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/video/47405/elianas-story (accessed 25 April 2024)

Story by Johanna Schmidt, published 5 May 2011, reviewed & revised 4 May 2021 with assistance from Gender Minorities Aotearoa