❤️HER NAME IS LENA❤️
“She had the biggest heart. She loved everyone who came across her path.”
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Her name is Lena. She was only 37. Lena was stabbed to death by her uncle Andrew Mungatopi at her home in Malak, Northern Territory on October 7, 2024. He has just been convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison for her manslaughter. He was originally charged with her murder.
Lena was the 64th of 106 women lost to violence in 2024.
The proud sistagirl came from the Tiwi Islands to Darwin some years ago. Her island home has Australia’s largest population of Indigenous transgender and gay people. Aboriginal people refer to transgender women as sistagirls and transgender men as brotherboys.
I keep an extensive set of background information on each woman and child killed in Australia.
My research shows Lena was the only transgender woman killed in 2024 and last year, we lost one gender non-binary person to violence. While the number of violent deaths seem low, rates of violence against transgender and gender non-binary people in Australia are high. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data shows 42% of transgender women have experienced violence.
Over the past few years, there’s been a huge spike in transphobic rhetoric across mainstream media and on all social media platforms. There’s no doubt trans rights are under pressure and people who identify as anything but cis gender are experiencing high levels of hate.
When Lena’s death was first publicised by NT Police – and the media – she was misidentified as male.
It took significant time for this to be rectified.
Lena was exceedingly kind and generous. She saw the best in people and always did what she could to make sure those in her family and community were supported and cared for.
“Lena was a beautiful, loving, caring and supportive person, and what happened to her should never have happened,” one of Lena’s relative said during the sentencing hearing.
“Lena did a lot for our family.
“Lena would look after all of us and the children.
“Andrew knew this, and had no reason to take her life.
“I still get angry when I think about how a beautiful life has been taken. I hope Lena’s family get justice.”
LENA MATTERS❤️
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