Behind the veil. Five stories of lesbian nuns

Article* by Edgar Ulises ** published on the website Homosensual (Mexico) On January 21, 2022, freely translated by Claudia Iuzzolino

In the past, extremely religious countries such as Mexico, Spain, Chile and Italy have been scandalized for the stories of some lesbian nuns.

The launch of themovie Benedetta In cinemas he raised a fuss, as he tells the life of two lesbian nuns. Rather than upset, this story should be treated in a completely natural way,Since the story of offers many real examples of nuns who had several sexual guidelines.

Some of them have becomeGreat writers, others have revolutionized public education, and somethey fought against the dictatorships. These are their stories.

Benedetta Carlini

Speaking of the lesbian nuns, we can start from the sameBenedetta Carlini who inspired Paul Verhoeven's film.

Sister Benedetta lived in the seventeenth century in Tuscany. In 1989 the writer Judith C. Brown brought to light some historical acts of the trial to which he was subjected by the Church, on which he baseed some of his books. According to the book Impuri: life of a lesbian nun in the Renaissance Italy, until the moment when he fell in love with Bartolomea, a girl who lived in his convent, Sister Benedetta was considered almost miraculous.

Sister Juana Inés de la Cruz

Without a doubt the most famous of all the lesbian nuns isSister Juana Inés de la Cruz. Everyone knows the story of howJuana inés de asbajeHe made himself a nun to be able to study and write; However, there are some Versions of the story concerning the love relationship that Sister Juana would have had with the viceregina María Luisa Manrique de Lara. Based on historical registers, they existMore than fifty romantic poems that Sister Juana dedicated to the viceregina, to which the nickname dessert was affected "Lisi". 

Catalina de erauso

Probably the most fascinating story is that ofCatalina de erauso. Better known as theMonja Alférez (Monaca Alfiere), Catalina was born in Spain at the end of the 16th century.He lived imprisoned in a convent since the age of four, at fifteen he ran away, and in order not to be recognized he transvestted himself as a man and embarked towards Peru.Catalina was a lesbian, he obtained various uses, and during that period, pretending to be a man,He entertained with the wives of his employers.

To escape from the problems caused by his escapades,He enlisted in the army that fought against the Mapuche in Chile, where he obtained the rank of Alfiere.However she also liked to play cards, and killed various men in gambling. For all this he was condemned to death, but ran away to Argentina and Bolivia, and then returned to Peru, where they finally captured it.

Before being executed, he asked for an interview with Agustín de Carbajal, bishop of Lima, to whom he told all his story. Moved, The bishop spared her life, but condemned her to live in the convent of Clarisse of Huamanga.

Sandra Pavez

The testimonies of lesbian nuns do not come only from history: even recent cases have recently existed. One of these is that of Sandra Pavez, A Former Chilean nun who since 1985 has dedicated himself to teaching in a religious school. In 2007 Sandra made coming out as lesbian, and for thisThe bishop of San Bernardo, Juan Ignacio González Erázuriz, ordered that the certificate of suitability as a teacher was revoked.

Given that in Chile the Constitution, still in force, of the dictatorship of Augustus Pinochet means that the Church can decide who can and who cannot teach religion in schools,Pavez was unable to return to teach. Now the professorHe is looking for justice and compensation for damages, and has brought his case before the Intelarmericana Court of Human Rights.

For fourteen years that Sandra Pavez has not practiced the profession of teacher because of his sexual orientation.

Bridget Coll

Together with Sandra Pavez, another famous Chilean lesbian nun isBridget Coll. Despite being born in Ireland in 1934, Bridget Coll has experienced some of the most important moments of his life in Chile. At fifteen he became a nun in a congregation in England. He later moved to the United States, where he opposed the positions of the Church in the field of control of the birth rate.

There he met Sister Chris Morrissey, of whom he fell in love.Both moved to Chile for a religious mission, howeverThey ended up joining the resistance against the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet.In the end,In 1989 Bridget and Chris abandoned their congregation and moved to Canada, where they lived the rest of their life as a couple.

Although they may seem like films, all these are really happened stories.

* News taken fromNational GeographicisBBC.

** I make journalism and political communication. I follow the legislative activity: here, or represent us, or they fuck us. Change must be sought in social movements.

Original text: 5 Monjas Lesbianas Reales que conmocionaron in La Religión