Love Tenderly: Sacred Stories of Lesbian and Queer Religious

by Grace Surdovel, Jeannine Gramick (Foreword)

Love Tenderly is a collection of personal stories shared by women religious who identify as lesbian or queer, and who have come to embrace their sexual orientation as an integral part of their identity and vocation to religious life. Each story is a journey of love and an embrace of truth and wholeness. These stories are some of the voices of women religious who are lesbian or queer.

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction, LGBT, Essays

203 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 17, 2021

Reviews

[Ashley Piekarski · Rating 5 out of 5]

One word: SHOCKING

Did you know that there have been Catholic conferences of lesbian nuns since the '70s??? I didn't! This book is an incredibly honest and vulnerable set of essays by lesbian nuns who don't shy away from any unspoken questions. The most important question each of them answered, in my opinion, is why they are STILL nuns even though so many toxic Catholics are against LGBT folks.

[K Kriesel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I get the impression this was written mostly for cishet readers, drastically different from Lesbian Nuns: Breaking Silence.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

All the authors did a phenomenal job revealing the humanity and vulnerability in their stories. I had no idea the gaps in psychosexual education that used to exist (and are still in the process of being closed) in the catholic formation process. I cannot imagine the strength and courage it must have taken these women to pen their stories.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

important stories from queer and lesbian women in religious life. a bit painful to read about the spiritual violence enacted by communities and harmful theologies of institutions, but worth reading and celebrating these stories finally being told.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting to read the trials of religious members of the church and their sexuality

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

sistersbare doin it for themselves.
A frank discussions about the conundrum of being a sister and being a lesbian.
Highly reccomended

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A long over due book from courageous Catholic Sisters—-

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting to watch the similarities in these women's lives. So many become gifts to their communities and to their parishes.

[Alexis Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

while I'm not Catholic, I am Christian and have/do struggle with conservative religious messages and my identity as a queer woman. It's comforting to read stories and know I'm not alone.