Shameless Theology S1:08 The Home We Carry: The Beautiful Agony of Diasporic Identity w/Jessica Vazquez Torres

Reverend Sex and guest Jessica Vazquez Torres engage in a profound discussion about the complexities of identity, faith, and home within the context of the Puerto Rican diaspora. The conversation explores various personal experiences and reflections, spanning topics from the significance of familial and cultural terms, the challenges and transformative potential of diasporic existence, to the spiritual and political dimensions of community building. Key themes include the nuanced intersection of religion and colonialism, and how Latino communities navigate their multifaceted identities while striving for liberation. The episode concludes with a touching reflection on ancestral influence and the imperative of creating meaningful connections for future generations.00:00 Welcome and Introduction00:13 Exploring Identity and Personal Connections03:55 Defining Home and Diaspora06:46 Navigating Diasporic Experiences09:23 The Role of Community and Belonging23:19 Faith, Religion, and Cultural Identity31:46 Colonial History and Its Impact37:21 Imposing Protestant American Christianity38:26 Impact of American Middle-Class Values39:33 Colonial Project and Diaspora41:09 Bad Bunny and Puerto Rican Identity48:01 Decolonization and Latinidad01:07:38 Spiritual Ancestors and HomeJessica Vazquez Torres (She/Her) is a 1.5 generation queer Latina of Puerto Rican descent shaped by 30 years living and working in the southern and midwestern United States. Based in Muwekma Ohlone Tribal land most commonly known as Oakland, CA, she brings over 20 years of experience organizing for racial justice—especially within religious institutions. Jessica’s intersectional lens and lived experience fuel powerful conversations on equity, identity, and transformation.Hosted by Rev. Sex (Rev. Alba Onofrio - Executive Director of Soulforce), this podcast channel offers connection, reflection, and community for anyone feeling spiritually marginalized or exiled but still resiliently faithful while centering dialogue on Queer, trans, and feminist theology.TSV seeks to decolonize faith, mixing theological education with real-life experiences to support human rights and liberation. Initially launched in Spanish, TSV addresses the monopolization of religious discourse by the far right. The platform gathers people of diverse Christian denominations, pastors, activists, and scholars to discuss gender identity, sex, and pleasure in the context of faith, aiming to heal the wounds of colonizing religion and create a welcoming space for topics often considered taboo in religious spaces. For the first time, Teología Sin Vergüenza is now in English.Join in our community of Sinvergüenzas by visiting our Teología Sin Vergüenza homepage or our Spanish WhatsApp Lista de Difusión. If you’d like to support this cutting-edge movement of ferocious Latinx power building, please make a donation.https://soulforce.org/donate/Find episode transcripts at https://soulforce.org/podcast/