Sins Against Nature

Discover the compelling insights of Zeb Tortorici in his thought-provoking book, Sins Against Nature, published in 2018. This 277-page work delves into the intricate prosecution of sexual acts during the colonial period in New Spain, which encompasses modern-day Mexico, Guatemala, the US Southwest, and the Philippines. Tortorici meticulously examines over three hundred criminal and Inquisition cases from 1530 to 1821, revealing how both secular and ecclesiastical courts utilized the term contra natura—meaning 'against nature'—to prosecute individuals accused of sodomy and other sexual offenses. Through this historical lens, the author highlights the complexities of how bodies and desires were recorded and archived in legal contexts. Sins Against Nature is essential reading for anyone interested in the intersections of law, sexuality, and history.