This month, in the UK’s first ever press interview, Diva talks to a lesbian priest, who tells how she was forced to hide the woman she has loved for 14 years, and why she believes all lesbian and gay clergy should go on strike. ‘Kira’, who was recently ordained as a priest, talks frankly to Diva about living a life that is not sanctioned by the Church.

"The bishop has come to our house and although I didn't hide the photographs of my girlfriend and me... He didn't mention the photographs of us both together, which show us absolutely as a couple. Like most people, he didn't ask and I didn't say. It's ridiculous I know, this game.”

“I have introduced her to people in Church but I just say, 'This is x', not 'This is x, my girlfriend'. However, if anyone asked me who she was to me, I would tell them."

She acknowledges sadly that there is much heterosexual clergy can take for granted that Kira and her partner are unable to enjoy. "I can't talk about the day-to-day relationship issues with the congregation as someone in a long-term relationship”.

Her career is also likely to suffer, as time goes on:
“It would be very hard for me to apply for another job within the Church. If I did go for one at some point I would have to out myself because I would want my girlfriend to live with me. This could mean the job was withdrawn and the authorities being informed, which would make it even harder for me to get another job.”

This culture of non-acceptance means that many lesbian or gay priests fear exposure of their sexuality, ‘Kira’ mentions an example:

"An acquaintance of mine who is a lesbian priest went to the extent of setting up the spare room to look like that was where her partner slept! That was the level of fear she was living with. Another lesbian priest was visited by the Bishop at home. Later that day he told someone he had met X and her 'lovely sister'."

‘Kira’ doesn't know if she will ever come out fully. A lot would be achieved, she believes, if all lesbian and gay clergy went on strike ('then they'd see how much they needed us'). However, as an outsider to the accepted Church norm, she preaches 'challengingly', and tries to make her voice heard. She describes her greatest strength as having a partner who isn't in the Church:

'My girlfriend describes me as the most unholy holy person she's ever met. I take that as a great compliment.'

Read the full interview in Diva magazine, May issue, on sale from 19th April. Visit Diva online at www.divamag.co.uk