A teacher in Santiago says Colegio Juanita de los Andes dropped her from a temporary teaching role after learning she was married to a woman. Her lawsuit alleges discrimination and an invasion of privacy, and seeks CLP 75 million. The claim is still before the labour court, so the allegations have not been established as findings.

A promising application took an unexpected turn

The teacher says she had passed early interviews, delivered a well-received demonstration lesson and started an 11-day replacement at the school. She was also introduced to staff as the person expected to lead a third-year primary class while another teacher was on maternity leave.

Then, according to the account reported by The Clinic, a human-resources representative asked about her husband. The teacher replied that she was married to a woman. She says she was subsequently told there were still two stages left in the selection process, despite having previously been told the appointment was confirmed.

The Clinic reports that an email dated 1 June said the school would not continue with her application. The teacher’s lawsuit argues that her marriage and sexual orientation were decisive in that change, but the court has yet to rule on the claim.

What the lawsuit is asking the court to decide

The action, filed at Santiago’s Labour Court, alleges a breach of fundamental rights, including protection from discrimination and the right to privacy. It also challenges the reported inquiry into the teacher’s married life and the alleged sharing of that information with school leaders without her consent.

The claim seeks a declaration that her rights were breached, measures to help prevent similar situations and CLP 75 million for lost earnings and moral harm. That figure is what the teacher is seeking, not an award made by the court.

Before going to court, her lawyer sought a meeting with the school’s director in July, The Clinic reports. The meeting instead took place with the school’s legal representative, and the parties did not reach a settlement.

The school’s stated mission adds context

The Colegio Padre Hurtado and Colegio Juanita de los Andes presents itself as part of the Ignatian educational tradition, with a Catholic identity. The Latin American Federation of Jesuit Schools describes its mission as helping educate people to become integral and free, while encouraging acceptance of oneself and others.

That public-facing mission gives the complaint a wider point of tension: the lawsuit questions whether the alleged treatment fits the values the school says it promotes. But institutional statements are context, not evidence of what happened during this recruitment process. The school’s website describes its educational identity and activities, but does not address the teacher’s allegations.

A previous case is relevant, but not the same dispute

Fundación Iguales has pledged support for the teacher, The Clinic reports. The organisation offers general legal guidance on discrimination, including information about workplace claims and court procedures, though that guidance does not confirm the merits of this particular case.

The report also refers to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights’ 2022 judgment in Pavez Pavez v. Chile. In that separate case, the Court found Chile responsible for rights violations after a Catholic religion teacher in a public school lost her authorisation to teach following a decision connected with her sexual orientation.

The precedent offers legal context, but it does not decide the current dispute. The people, institutions and circumstances are different, and the Santiago labour court has not yet determined whether discrimination occurred here.

What to keep in mind as the case proceeds

For now, the clearest distinction is between the allegation and the finding: the teacher says her application ended after she disclosed that her spouse was a woman, while the court has yet to assess the evidence. The requested compensation and proposed preventive measures are part of her claim, not an outcome.

The case also shows why a recruitment timeline can matter. The reported sequence includes successful early stages, a short replacement role, an expected appointment and a later rejection; the court will need to consider the evidence behind those events and the reasons for the decision.

For anyone following the story, the key update will be what the court establishes, rather than what either side’s public presentation might suggest.

The claim now rests with the court, where the distinction between allegation and proof matters.

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