S

iti Maimunah, 19, a resident of Genuk subdistrict in Semarang, Central Java, has declared herself a male named Muhammad Prawirodirjoyo following a verdict by a local court.

His parents used to treat him as a female, but on Tuesday the Semarang court ruled that Siti was a man.

“I’m glad. Now my name is Joyo. Maimunah does not exist anymore. I’m not a female. I’m Joyo, truly a man,” he said after the court session.

He expressed hope that his parents could accept him and would not treat him as a female anymore.

Iva Sudewi, a judge at the Semarang court, said that based on evidence, including that from a medical team at Kariadi Hospital, Siti Maimunah was a man.

“Therefore, as of today, Siti Maimunah deserves her new name to be Muhammad Prawirodirjoyo,” Iva said in her verdict.

“Considering testimonies from witnesses, including relatives and medical experts, we consent to the request for the gender status change of Siti Maimunah,” she said.

In the previous court hearing, Joyo, then Siti maimunah, said that he possessed male genitals
but was forced to become a girl because his parents wanted a female child after his other four siblings were all male.

“My parents wanted a female child, so when I was born I was named Siti Maimunah,” Joyo said.

He was admitted to a female pesantren, an Islamic boarding school, by his parents.

He said he was nervous when with his female friends. “I would feel more nervous with beautiful girls, while with boys I did not have such feelings,” he said.

After finishing his senior high school last year, he worked at a company as male worker. He said he had been supported by his boss in the company to obtain his status.

His venture to revert to his original sex began last month when he filed the case to Semarang court.

In “her” teenage years, Siti Maimunah had never menstruated and had never been interested in men.

“Since birth, my reproductive system has been male. I’m glad about this, and call me Joyo,” he said.