Explore every episode of the podcast Shameless Theology: Queer Feminist Latine Decolonial Faith
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shameless Theology S1:00 Introducing Teología Sin Vergüenza | 06 Oct 2025 | 00:10:19 | |
Welcome to Teología Sin Vergüenza (TSV)! This is a podcast about shameless theology that centers dialogue on Queer, trans, and feminist theology. 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. 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. Find episode transcripts at https://soulforce.org/podcast/ | |||
| Trailer: Teología Sin Vergüenza - Shameless Theology | 29 Sep 2025 | 00:01:10 | |
Teología Sin Vergüenza (TSV) is a unique podcast that amplifies ferocious queer, feminist, academically-trained Latinx theologians who are living examples of counter-narratives and theological resistance to the political and religious threats our people face. This media project is the first of its kind: a woman-led and queer-centered conversation space where activists and theologians convene digitally across the Americas to discuss the alternatives to death-dealing theologies of Christian fundamentalism that kill our spirits and impede our progress to equal human rights — all from an unapologetically politicized faith perspective. | |||
| Love Letters From Rev. Sex S1:01 Sacred Resistance and Spiritual Healing | 15 Oct 2025 | 00:21:26 | |
In this first episode of 'Love Letters From Reverend Sex,' Reverend Alba Onofrio, also known as Reverend Sex, commemorates their 10th anniversary of ordained ministry. They reflect on their unconventional ministry journey as a Queer feminist Latinx spiritual strategist with Soulforce and the Sexual Liberation Collective. Reverend Sex discusses their ordination by a diverse group of radical queers in Durham, North Carolina, emphasizing the importance of fighting spiritual violence and reclaiming theology for marginalized communities. They share how creative rituals, such as adapted communion and a reimagined 'Our Mother' prayer, play a role in their ministry. The episode also touches on the significance of community accountability and the intersection of faith and activism in working towards liberation and spiritual healing. 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. 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. 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. Find episode transcripts at https://soulforce.org/podcast/ | |||
| Shameless Theology S1:01 Divine Pleasure After Purity Culture with Rev. Dr. Lis Valle-Ruiz | 13 Oct 2025 | 00:58:21 | |
Can pleasure be divine? How do you become shameless after decades of living under the lies and pain of purity culture? What does shameless theology look like? In this first English episode of TSV, Reverend Sex introduces the vibrant world of Queer and feminist theology, focusing on communities from Latin America and its diaspora. Reverend Sex and their guest, the Rev. Dr. Lis Valle-Ruiz, discuss their personal and communal journeys of integrating Queer identity, activism, and faith. They touch upon themes of cultural and spiritual exile, the myths of purity culture, and the intersections of queerness and Christianity. They reflect on their shared history, the life-giving nature of their work, and their ongoing quest for spiritual and sexual liberation. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Queer and Feminist Theology 01:30 Meet the Hosts: Reverend Sex and Rev. Dr. Lis Valle-Ruiz 03:42 The Concept of 'Sin Vergüenza' and Personal Stories 09:51 The Intersection of Activism, Theology, and Queerness 13:33 Challenges and Triumphs in Queer Christian Communities 22:37 Sexuality, Purity Culture, and Personal Growth 28:15 Adventurous Beginnings 28:29 Exploring Non-Monogamy 28:59 Academic and Cultural Challenges 29:44 Discovering Dominatrix 30:12 Embracing Non-Monogamy 31:16 Navigating Relationships 38:07 Purity Culture vs. Asexuality 41:06 Institutional Navigation 44:41 Spiritual and Personal Growth 50:55 Creating Life-Giving Projects 52:46 Conclusion and Reflections Rev. Dr. Lis Valle-Ruiz was born and raised in Puerto Rico. She is a performing artist, educator, and practical theologian. Lis works as Associate Professor of Homiletics and Worship, and Director of Community Worship Life at McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago, IL. Rev. Valle received a ThM in Homiletics from Princeton Theological Seminary and an MDiv from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. She also holds a JD and a BA in Education from the University of Puerto Rico. Her research interests lie at the intersection of preaching, worship, and performance studies from Queer decolonial perspectives. 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. Find episode transcripts at https://soulforce.org/podcast/ | |||
| Shameless Theology S1:02 Decolonial Theology and Queer Feminism w/ Dr. Nancy Bedford | 20 Oct 2025 | 01:08:57 | |
Host Reverend Alba Onofrio (Reverend Sex) welcomes Dr. Nancy Bedford to explore the intersections of queer and feminist theology within the Latin American context. The discussion delves into Bedford's personal journey and her work, emphasizing the critical role of decolonial theology. Topics include the reinterpretation of religious texts, especially the Bible, through the empowering lens of feminist and queer readings. Bedford highlights the importance of community, mutuality, and the role of spirituality in resisting oppressive structures. The conversation also touches on the historical and contemporary significance of influential women in theology, and the broader implications of their work for faith-based activism today. 00:00 Introduction to Queer and Feminist Theology 02:08 Meet Nancy Bedford: A Journey of Faith and Feminism 03:39 The Power of Grace and Resistance 06:01 The Intersection of Faith and Feminism 15:05 Theological Feminism and Liberation 19:32 Global Perspectives on Feminism 32:02 Complementarianism and Mutuality 34:38 The Advocate and Transformation 35:19 Spirituality and Enjoyment 36:35 Community and Accountability 38:58 Mother God and the Holy Spirit 40:23 Theology and Interpretation 52:06 The Power of Prayer and Contemplation 53:39 Historical Resistance and Cultural Values 55:46 The Role of Theology in Modern Times 59:21 The Importance of Spiritual Resources 01:01:45 Honoring Ancestors and Personal Influences Dr. Nancy Elizabeth Bedford has been Georgia Harkness Professor of Theology at Garrett Theological Seminary since 2003; previously she taught theology in her home country of Argentina. She has written, co-written, or edited eleven books and written over 100 book chapters and journal articles, which have appeared in six languages. Her forthcoming book is Jesús: Una cristología al andar and her latest book chapter is “La teología frente a la violencia feminicida.” 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. Find episode transcripts at https://soulforce.org/podcast/ | |||
| Love Letters From Reverend Sex S2:10 Choosing Love When Fear Threatens to Divide Us | 08 Jul 2026 | 00:21:23 | |
This season finale of Love Letters From Reverend Sex begins on a quiet island where Reverend Sex reflects on the ocean’s ability to hold emotional turbulence and on the heavy days that call us back to choosing love over fear. After a conversation with Pantay, an LGBTQ youth advocacy group in Manila, Reverend Sex shares the raw moment when a mother asked why so many people still choose hate—and why religion so often stands in the way of love. Reverend Sex explores how fear becomes the engine of division, how religious teachings about obedience and punishment shape our understanding of love, and how fear gets normalized in families, churches, and society. They trace how this fear-based theology leads people to comply with systems that harm them, and how Queer and Trans people continually resist by choosing authenticity, community, and love even when fear is justified. The love letter closes with a meditation on the bravery of choosing love in a world built on fear, drawing a parallel to Jesus’ own refusal to recant his message of equality and liberation. Reverend Sex offers a prayer for courage, protection, and the strength to keep choosing love—trusting that the desire for truth and belonging is always more powerful than fear. 01:41 Ocean Reflections at Dusk 02:06 Holding Turbulence in the Body 02:48 LGBTQ Youth Q&A 04:29 The Mother’s Question 05:46 Fear as the Engine of Division 06:50 How Religion Gets Weaponized 08:26 Fear, Obedience, and Belonging 13:26 Choosing Love in a World Built on Fear 16:05 The Lineage of Jesus and the Cost of Love 17:52 A Prayer for Courage and Truth Hosted by Reverend Sex (Rev. Alba Onofrio - Executive Director of Soulforce), Love Letters from Reverend Sex is confession and revelation, intimate and inspirational. This weekly message from an ordained pastor, spiritual healer, and bruja troublemaker will empower you to reject practices of spiritual violence and eradicate shame and fear in your life. This is the spiritual home you’ve been looking for. The entire Shameless Theology podcast channel offers connection, reflection, and community for anyone feeling spiritually marginalized or exiled but still resiliently faithful. It’s a space for exploration--un/learning and re/membering our spiritual journeys through sharing the experience, wisdom, and connections Soulforce has built as an international LGBTQIA+ social justice nonprofit organization over the last 30 years. Join in our community of Sinvergüenzas by visiting our Shameless Theology homepage or our Spanish WhatsApp Lista de Difusión. If you’d like to support this cutting-edge movement of ferocious Latine power building, please make a donation. FREE PREVIEW: Spiritual Violence and Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith: https://soulforce.org/download/spiritual-violence/ Find episode transcripts at https://soulforce.org/podcast/ | |||
| Shameless Theology S2:10 Catholic Priestess and Godmother of the Disappeared w/ Rosa Manriquez | 06 Jul 2026 | 01:13:09 | |
In this season finale of Shameless Theology Rev. Alba Onofrio hosts beloved returning guest Rosa Manriquez in an inspiring conversation that captures the essence of the Sinvergüenza spirit. Rosa describes her youth as a “manzana de la discordia” pursuing knowledge, resisting shame, and questioning her elders. Rev. Alba and Rosa discuss the importance of listening to children, keeping them grounded, and raising daughters who are ungovernable. Rosa gracefully offers mercy to ICE agents while condemning their actions and the false promise of safety through assimilation. She describes her role co-founding the Godmothers of the Disappeared who hold weekly vigils at the downtown LA federal building to demand detainees’ return, reject divisive politics, and call agents to “choose life.” Rev. Alba and Rosa discuss Rosa’s Catholic lineage, formation by the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart (featured in the documentary Rebel Hearts), her call to priesthood, ordination via apostolic succession despite excommunication threats, and celebrating inclusive Mass—especially her first Mass at Creating Change—for LGBTQ Catholics. Rosa leaves listeners with an invitation to say yes, to take a risk, and to remember that we are loved. Don’t miss this season finale of Shameless Theology! Rosa Manriquez is a Los Angeles–based Catholic community leader, speaker, and justice advocate whose work centers on radical love, family, and inclusion. A third-generation Latina raised in East Los Angeles, she holds a Master’s degree in theology and has spent years working at the intersection of faith, anti-racism, and immigrant justice through organizations such as the Immaculate Heart Community, Call To Action, and the Human Rights Campaign’s A La Familia program. Rosa is widely known for her powerful personal journey—from holding deeply homophobic beliefs shaped by heartbreak and religious upbringing to becoming a fiercely loving and affirming mother to her lesbian daughters. Today, she shares her story nationally as a storyteller, trainer, and bridge-builder within Catholic and Latinx communities, advocating for LGBTQ+ inclusion, healing, and justice. Hosted by Reverend 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. Shameless Theology seeks to decolonize faith, mixing theological education with real-life experiences to support human rights and life abundant for all of Creation. Initially launched in Spanish as Teología Sin Vergüenza, this show addresses the monopolization of religious discourse by the extreme Right. Here, we gather people of diverse faith backgrounds and Christian denominations--pastors, activists, and scholars--to discuss gender identity, the erotic, and real life in the context of a radically inclusive faith, aiming to heal the wounds of colonizing religion and create a welcoming space for topics often considered taboo in religious spaces. This season forefronts our new book: Spiritual Violence: Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith. This timely resource identifies and examines the consequences of white Christian Supremacy through historical context and case studies, centering lived experiences of marginalized people, and offers critical analysis and practical tools for healing and resistance. Each week, we’ll share engaging conversations with brilliant guests familiar with the work, as we explore the concepts and lived experiences of Spiritual Violence. The podcast is not a repetition of the book but an expansion of conversation adding new voices: experts in their fields who share their experience with our community. Even if you haven’t read the book yet, these are engaging conversations relevant to the here and how, and we invite you to join us and continue the conversation in your own communities. FREE PREVIEW: Spiritual Violence and Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith: soulforce.org/download/spiritual-violence/ Join in our community of Sinvergüenzas by visiting our Shameless Theology homepage or our Spanish WhatsApp Lista de Difusión. If you’d like to support this cutting-edge movement of ferocious Latine power building, please make a donation. | |||
| Love Letters From Reverend Sex S2:05 The Weaponization of Forgiveness | 03 Jun 2026 | 00:25:59 | |
Forgiveness is often preached as holy, but in abusive systems it becomes a tool of control that protects institutions and silences survivors. Reverend Sex (Rev. Alba Onofrio) reflects on the weaponization of Christian forgiveness, sharing a story of an 18-year-old in Costa Rica shamed as “impure” and barred from church dance after giving birth at 12 due to abuse by a church elder the community protected. Reverend Sex critiques forgiveness lessons that use Scripture to shift the burden onto victims, erase anger and grief, and replace accountability and restitution with private repentance to God. 00:00 Welcome Back Beloved 01:45 Late Night In Mexico 02:12 Costa Rica Story 05:43 Forgiveness Weaponized 09:27 God As Aggrieved 12:49 Healing Versus Performance 14:06 Focus On Family Rules 17:40 White Supremacy Lens 20:35 Jesus Cross Reframe 22:17 Prayer For Tenderness 24:33 Outro And Resources Hosted by Reverend Sex (Rev. Alba Onofrio - Executive Director of Soulforce), Love Letters from Reverend Sex is confession and revelation, intimate and inspirational. This weekly message from an ordained pastor, spiritual healer, and bruja troublemaker will empower you to reject practices of spiritual violence and eradicate shame and fear in your life. This is the spiritual home you’ve been looking for. The entire Shameless Theology podcast channel offers connection, reflection, and community for anyone feeling spiritually marginalized or exiled but still resiliently faithful. It’s a space for exploration--un/learning and re/membering our spiritual journeys through sharing the experience, wisdom, and connections Soulforce has built as an international LGBTQIA+ social justice nonprofit organization over the last 30 years. Join in our community of Sinvergüenzas by visiting our Shameless Theology homepage or our Spanish WhatsApp Lista de Difusión. If you’d like to support this cutting-edge movement of ferocious Latine power building, please make a donation. FREE PREVIEW: Spiritual Violence and Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith: https://soulforce.org/download/spiritual-violence/ Find episode transcripts at https://soulforce.org/podcast/ | |||
| Shameless Theology S2:05 Christian Perpetrators of Violence: Documenting Religious Racism w/Dr. Danielle Boaz & Dr. Gustavo Melo Cerqueira Pt. 1 | 01 Jun 2026 | 00:51:49 | |
Spiritual Terrorism does not require intention to do harm when social, political, and cultural structures are established to facilitate harm. Today, Rev. Alba Onofrio introduces two scholars who have worked together for almost a decade to expose these structures and document incidents of Religious Racism in Brazil. Dr. Danielle Boaz and Dr. Gustavo Melo Cerquiera have built a bilingual database of 500+ documented incidents of religious intolerance against Afro-Brazilian faiths. In cases where perpetrators were identified, every single one was Christian—most often Neo‑Pentecostal—revealing a pattern of organized hostility that shapes daily life and public safety. In part one of this two part conversation, we learn how Danielle and Gustavo came to this work, and how the project started as a cry for help and a fight for survival. We’ll consider how their lived experience and research into the prohibition & persecution of African diaspora religions across the Americas relates to the concepts presented in Soulforce’s new book Spiritual Violence: Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith and discuss the ways religion colludes with power to produce harm. Dr. Danielle N. Boaz is Professor of Africana Studies and Interim Director of Legal Studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Her research focuses on discrimination and violence against African diaspora religious communities from the nineteenth to the present. Dr. Boaz is the author of Banning Black Gods: Law and Religions of the African Diaspora (Penn State University Press 2021) and Voodoo: The History of a Racial Slur (Oxford University Press 2023);she is co-author of Silencing the Drum:Religious Racism and Afro-Brazilian Sacred Music (Amherst College Press 2024). Dr. Gustavo Melo Cerqueira: Dr. Gustavo Melo Cerqueira is the Babalorixá of Ilê Axé Omi Ogun siwajú and an artist of performance and presence working as an actor, director, and playwright. He serves as Vice President of the International Commission to Combat Religious Racism (ICCRR), a global initiative dedicated to studying and confronting religious racism through research, advocacy, and international collaboration. His work bridges scholarship and activism, addressing discrimination against African and African diaspora religions worldwide. Dr. Melo Cerqueira holds a Ph.D. in African and African Diaspora Studies and an M.A. in Arts from the University of Texas at Austin and is an Adjunct Professor of Theater Education at UNIRIO. He has published widely in theater, performance, and religious studies, and is co-founder of Pele Negra – Escola de Teatro(s) Preto(s). Find more about their work at www.religiousracism.org Americans’ Double Standard on Religious Violence - PRRI Hosted by Reverend 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. Shameless Theology seeks to decolonize faith, mixing theological education with real-life experiences to support human rights and life abundant for all of Creation. Initially launched in Spanish as Teología Sin Vergüenza, this show addresses the monopolization of religious discourse by the extreme Right. Here, we gather people of diverse faith backgrounds and Christian denominations--pastors, activists, and scholars--to discuss gender identity, the erotic, and real life in the context of a radically inclusive faith, aiming to heal the wounds of colonizing religion and create a welcoming space for topics often considered taboo in religious spaces. This season forefronts our new book: Spiritual Violence: Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith. This timely resource identifies and examines the consequences of white Christian Supremacy through historical context and case studies, centering lived experiences of marginalized people, and offers critical analysis and practical tools for healing and resistance. Each week, we’ll share engaging conversations with brilliant guests familiar with the work, as we explore the concepts and lived experiences of Spiritual Violence. The podcast is not a repetition of the book but an expansion of conversation adding new voices: experts in their fields who share their experience with our community. Even if you haven’t read the book yet, these are engaging conversations relevant to the here and how, and we invite you to join us and continue the conversation in your own communities. FREE PREVIEW: Spiritual Violence and Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith: soulforce.org/download/spiritual-violence/ Join in our community of Sinvergüenzas by visiting our Shameless Theology homepage or our Spanish WhatsApp Lista de Difusión. If you’d like to support this cutting-edge movement of ferocious Latine power building, please make a donation. | |||
| Love Letters From Reverend Sex S2:04 What is a Queer Christian? | 27 May 2026 | 00:23:28 | |
What if your queerness isn’t just who you love—but the lens that teaches you to question everything? Reflecting on a rainy night at home and a recent visit to United Lutheran Seminary, Reverend Sex (Rev. Alba Onofrio) answers a seminarian’s brave question: “What is a Queer Christian?” They unpack how identity-shaping adjectives matter, and how “Queer” differs from “gay” as a politicized, countercultural refusal to conform to broken systems. Through examples like chosen family, bodies and sexuality, and gendered language for God, they describe Queerness as a power analysis that challenges authority, including how biblical canon was formed. Seeing Jesus as anti-imperialist and resisting unjust power, they frame queer Christianity as hope-filled sacred resistance, then close with a prayer for courage to ask hard questions and build community. 00:00 Welcome Back Beloveds 01:45 The Seminary Question 03:16 Identity Words Matter 05:47 Queer As A Lens 06:35 Gay Does Not Equal Queer 09:28 Chosen Family And Bodies 12:12 Power And Authority 14:37 Jesus The Rebel 17:07 Hope And Liberation 19:45 Prayer For Holy Trouble 22:04 Closing and Resources Hosted by Reverend Sex (Rev. Alba Onofrio - Executive Director of Soulforce), Love Letters from Reverend Sex is confession and revelation, intimate and inspirational. This weekly message from an ordained pastor, spiritual healer, and bruja troublemaker will empower you to reject practices of spiritual violence and eradicate shame and fear in your life. This is the spiritual home you’ve been looking for. The entire Shameless Theology podcast channel offers connection, reflection, and community for anyone feeling spiritually marginalized or exiled but still resiliently faithful. It’s a space for exploration--un/learning and re/membering our spiritual journeys through sharing the experience, wisdom, and connections Soulforce has built as an international LGBTQIA+ social justice nonprofit organization over the last 30 years. Join in our community of Sinvergüenzas by visiting our Shameless Theology homepage or our Spanish WhatsApp Lista de Difusión. If you’d like to support this cutting-edge movement of ferocious Latine power building, please make a donation. FREE PREVIEW: Spiritual Violence and Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith: https://soulforce.org/download/spiritual-violence/ Find episode transcripts at https://soulforce.org/podcast/ | |||
| Shameless Theology S2:04 Faith as Costly Love w/Rev. Rhina Ramos | 25 May 2026 | 00:55:28 | |
What do you do when you can’t find a spiritual home? You build one. In pursuit of a faith that could withstand questioning and a community that embraced freedom and dignity, guest Rev. Rhina Ramos worked to create the spiritual home she’d been searching for. In today’s episode, Rev. Alba Onofrio invites Rhina to share her journey from a punitive Catholic upbringing in El Salvador, through migration to the U.S., and a decade in a Salvadoran Baptist church to the rupture of coming out as a lesbian, divorcing, and trusting God’s grace amid rejection. Today, as the co-founder and pastor of the country’s only Spanish‑speaking, queer‑led UCC congregation, she and the Ministerio Latino community offer both material support for newly arrived immigrants and a healing, affirming space where Queer and Trans people can be fully seen. With more than 25 years of experience as an activist and advocate, Rhina has seen the effects of Spiritual Violence up close in our communities. In today’s conversation, Rev. Alba and Rhina reflect on those stories, the spiritual trauma carried by Queer immigrants and Trans people, our responsibility to costly love as an expression of faith, and the practices that sustain us: community care, rest, and drawing strength from revolutionary ancestors. Rev. Rhina Ramos is an ordained United Church of Christ minister leading Ministerio Latino, a Spanish speaking open and affirming congregation for LGTBQI Latinx immigrants founded as her call in 2011. Rhina was born in El Salvador and emigrated to the United States at age 14 in 1983. As an immigrant undocumented during the first 3 years in the United States, Rhina knows first hand the fear and pain of belonging to an invisible community. She graduated from Hofstra University Law School in 1995 and was a labor attorney for five years recouping thousands of dollars in unpaid wages for immigrant workers. In 2003, she obtained a Masters in Divinity from the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA. Pastor Rhina has worked in the nonprofit sector for over 25 years as an activist, community organizer and manager. In November 2024, she published her first book In My Heart, A Volcano in Spanish about her family and memories of growing up in El Salvador during the 80’s and her journey north as undocumented immigrant. Find Rev. Rhina at ministeriolatino.org or on Facebook & Instagram Hosted by Reverend 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. Shameless Theology seeks to decolonize faith, mixing theological education with real-life experiences to support human rights and life abundant for all of Creation. Initially launched in Spanish as Teología Sin Vergüenza, this show addresses the monopolization of religious discourse by the extreme Right. Here, we gather people of diverse faith backgrounds and Christian denominations--pastors, activists, and scholars--to discuss gender identity, the erotic, and real life in the context of a radically inclusive faith, aiming to heal the wounds of colonizing religion and create a welcoming space for topics often considered taboo in religious spaces. This season forefronts our new book: Spiritual Violence: Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith. This timely resource identifies and examines the consequences of white Christian Supremacy through historical context and case studies, centering lived experiences of marginalized people, and offers critical analysis and practical tools for healing and resistance. Each week, we’ll share engaging conversations with brilliant guests familiar with the work, as we explore the concepts and lived experiences of Spiritual Violence. The podcast is not a repetition of the book but an expansion of conversation adding new voices: experts in their fields who share their experience with our community. Even if you haven’t read the book yet, these are engaging conversations relevant to the here and how, and we invite you to join us and continue the conversation in your own communities. FREE PREVIEW: Spiritual Violence and Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith: soulforce.org/download/spiritual-violence/ Join in our community of Sinvergüenzas by visiting our Shameless Theology homepage or our Spanish WhatsApp Lista de Difusión. If you’d like to support this cutting-edge movement of ferocious Latine power building, please make a donation. | |||
| Love Letters From Reverend Sex S2:03 Dirty Words, Holy Resistance | 20 May 2026 | 00:21:33 | |
Profane or impolite? How do the words we choose relate to the faith we practice? Honoring a rebellious heart and faithful spirit Reverend Sex (Rev. Alba Onofrio) explores why profanity unsettles many Christians but can be a political and spiritual practice rooted in activism where survival leaves little room for polite society. Drawing on the Battle of Hastings and the class divide between Old English and French-derived “educated” language, they show how “cuss words” became labeled vulgar. They distinguish swearing, cursing, and cussing, and invite a redefinition of “profane” as that which causes harm. 00:00 Welcome Back Beloveds 01:45 Why This Love Letter 03:49 Activism And Real Talk 05:41 Unbecoming Of A Lady 06:23 Medieval Swearing Origins 07:40 Battle Of Hastings 09:18 Class And Language Split 12:47 Profanity Word Examples 15:11 Swearing Cursing Cussing 17:21 Redefining The Profane 17:57 Prayer For Holy Speech 20:10 Closing And More Shows Hosted by Reverend Sex (Rev. Alba Onofrio - Executive Director of Soulforce), Love Letters from Reverend Sex is confession and revelation, intimate and inspirational. This weekly message from an ordained pastor, spiritual healer, and bruja troublemaker will empower you to reject practices of spiritual violence and eradicate shame and fear in your life. This is the spiritual home you’ve been looking for. The entire Shameless Theology podcast channel offers connection, reflection, and community for anyone feeling spiritually marginalized or exiled but still resiliently faithful. It’s a space for exploration--un/learning and re/membering our spiritual journeys through sharing the experience, wisdom, and connections Soulforce has built as an international LGBTQIA+ social justice nonprofit organization over the last 30 years. Join in our community of Sinvergüenzas by visiting our Shameless Theology homepage or our Spanish WhatsApp Lista de Difusión. If you’d like to support this cutting-edge movement of ferocious Latine power building, please make a donation. FREE PREVIEW: Spiritual Violence and Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith: https://soulforce.org/download/spiritual-violence/ Find episode transcripts at https://soulforce.org/podcast/ | |||
| Shameless Theology S2:03 Their Calling, My Body: A Pastor's Kid Story w/Yolanda Santiago-Correa Pt. 2 | 18 May 2026 | 00:35:56 | |
When purity is preached as protection but feels like surveillance, pastor’s kids can become extensions of the pulpit under constant scrutiny. In part two of a conversation with Yolanda Santiago-Correa,, the story turns personal. Yolanda describes how her parents—shaped by their own religious trauma—protected her through honest, nuanced dialogue rather than censorship. Even so, she navigated policing of her body, social isolation, pressure to represent her family, and the constant fear that any misstep could jeopardize her parents’ employment. Together, Rev. Alba (Reverend Sex) and Yolanda examine how white Christian Supremacist purity culture and rigid binaries create conditions for Spiritual Terrorism. They explore the tension between embodied Puerto Rican culture and church repression, and why Pentecostalism’s intimate, physical spirituality can feel grounding amid disenfranchisement. The episode invites listeners to take responsibility for their own faith—naming harm honestly while seeking ways to protect what is sacred without reproducing violence. Yolanda M. Santiago Correa is a doctoral candidate in Religion and Culture. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico and an M.Div. from Duke Divinity School. Her research explores the intersection of Puerto Rican racial imagination and Christian practice, centering Black Boricua experiences to challenge colonial frameworks and reimagine religious life in the archipelago and diaspora. She currently serves as Program Coordinator for the Hispanic House of Studies at Duke Divinity School and as the inaugural Director of the AfroLatine Theology Project. Hosted by Reverend 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. Shameless Theology seeks to decolonize faith, mixing theological education with real-life experiences to support human rights and life abundant for all of Creation. Initially launched in Spanish as Teología Sin Vergüenza, this show addresses the monopolization of religious discourse by the extreme Right. Here, we gather people of diverse faith backgrounds and Christian denominations--pastors, activists, and scholars--to discuss gender identity, the erotic, and real life in the context of a radically inclusive faith, aiming to heal the wounds of colonizing religion and create a welcoming space for topics often considered taboo in religious spaces. This season forefronts our new book: Spiritual Violence: Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith. This timely resource identifies and examines the consequences of white Christian Supremacy through historical context and case studies, centering lived experiences of marginalized people, and offers critical analysis and practical tools for healing and resistance. Each week, we’ll share engaging conversations with brilliant guests familiar with the work, as we explore the concepts and lived experiences of Spiritual Violence. The podcast is not a repetition of the book but an expansion of conversation adding new voices: experts in their fields who share their experience with our community. Even if you haven’t read the book yet, these are engaging conversations relevant to the here and how, and we invite you to join us and continue the conversation in your own communities. FREE PREVIEW: Spiritual Violence and Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith: soulforce.org/download/spiritual-violence/ Join in our community of Sinvergüenzas by visiting our Shameless Theology homepage or our Spanish WhatsApp Lista de Difusión. If you’d like to support this cutting-edge movement of ferocious Latine power building, please make a donation. | |||
| Love Letters From Reverend Sex S2:02 Called Out, Called In, Called Forward | 13 May 2026 | 00:22:38 | |
If you’ve been wondering whether that persistent tug in your spirit is a real calling, this love letter is your sign to listen—and be brave. Reverend Sex (Rev. Alba Onofrio) shares their own improbable path toward divinity school as a queer, non-monogamous mother, guided by Rev. Dr. Katie Cannon’s mantra: “Do the work your soul must have.” A transformative moment during a Moravian Love Feast—known for its ritualized welcome and egalitarian table—cracked something open: a divine challenge to their anger about the absence of affirming church spaces. What followed was a season of discernment, surprising confirmations, and the courage to “just apply,” ultimately leading them to seminary. This episode encourages listeners to ask what makes them come alive, to pray boldly, and to trust that callings often begin as a whisper. 00:00 Welcome Beloveds 01:45 Called To Something 03:42 Soul Must Have Work 05:06 Moravian Love Feast 10:27 Searching For Church 13:43 God Asks What Now 14:17 Just Apply Anyway 15:57 Hearing The Call 18:59 Prayer For Discernment 21:16 Closing And Resources Hosted by Reverend Sex (Rev. Alba Onofrio - Executive Director of Soulforce), Love Letters from Reverend Sex is confession and revelation, intimate and inspirational. This weekly message from an ordained pastor, spiritual healer, and bruja troublemaker will empower you to reject practices of spiritual violence and eradicate shame and fear in your life. This is the spiritual home you’ve been looking for. The entire Shameless Theology podcast channel offers connection, reflection, and community for anyone feeling spiritually marginalized or exiled but still resiliently faithful. It’s a space for exploration--un/learning and re/membering our spiritual journeys through sharing the experience, wisdom, and connections Soulforce has built as an international LGBTQIA+ social justice nonprofit organization over the last 30 years. Join in our community of Sinvergüenzas by visiting our Shameless Theology homepage or our Spanish WhatsApp Lista de Difusión. If you’d like to support this cutting-edge movement of ferocious Latine power building, please make a donation. FREE PREVIEW: Spiritual Violence and Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith: https://soulforce.org/download/spiritual-violence/ Find episode transcripts at https://soulforce.org/podcast/ | |||
| Shameless Theology S2:02 When Faith Becomes Control: Puerto Rico’s Christian Colonial History w/Yolanda Santiago-Correa Pt. 1 | 11 May 2026 | 00:45:25 | |
Puerto Rico’s colonial past isn’t just politics—it’s a Christian story written into bodies, churches, and daily survival. Rev. Alba Onofrio (Reverend Sex), Executive Director of Soulforce, introduces Shameless Theology Season 2 as a series based on the book Spiritual Violence: Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith, naming spiritual violence, religious abuse, and white Christian Supremacy as lived realities. In part one of a two-part conversation, guest Yolanda Santiago Correa traces Puerto Rico’s colonization under Spain and then the U.S., describing an “embedded dependency” reinforced through Christian rhetoric, U.S. policy, and economic control. She discusses Protestant denominations dividing the island, structural neglect highlighted by Hurricane Maria, and “Latinidad” as a homogenizing, anti-Black colonial project tied to purity, assimilation, and whiteness. The conversation considers queering inherited tools for understanding race, identity, and belonging, ranging from reggaeton to racial gatekeeping. Part two will explore Yolanda’s experiences of spiritual violence growing up, navigating identity and belonging as a pastor’s kid. Yolanda M. Santiago Correa is a doctoral candidate in Religion and Culture. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico and an M.Div. from Duke Divinity School. Her research explores the intersection of Puerto Rican racial imagination and Christian practice, centering Black Boricua experiences to challenge colonial frameworks and reimagine religious life in the archipelago and diaspora. She currently serves as Program Coordinator for the Hispanic House of Studies at Duke Divinity School and as the inaugural Director of the AfroLatine Theology Project. Hosted by Reverend 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. Shameless Theology seeks to decolonize faith, mixing theological education with real-life experiences to support human rights and life abundant for all of Creation. Initially launched in Spanish as Teología Sin Vergüenza, this show addresses the monopolization of religious discourse by the extreme Right. Here, we gather people of diverse faith backgrounds and Christian denominations--pastors, activists, and scholars--to discuss gender identity, the erotic, and real life in the context of a radically inclusive faith, aiming to heal the wounds of colonizing religion and create a welcoming space for topics often considered taboo in religious spaces. This season forefronts our new book: Spiritual Violence: Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith. This timely resource identifies and examines the consequences of white Christian Supremacy through historical context and case studies, centering lived experiences of marginalized people, and offers critical analysis and practical tools for healing and resistance. Each week, we’ll share engaging conversations with brilliant guests familiar with the work, as we explore the concepts and lived experiences of Spiritual Violence. The podcast is not a repetition of the book but an expansion of conversation adding new voices: experts in their fields who share their experience with our community. Even if you haven’t read the book yet, these are engaging conversations relevant to the here and how, and we invite you to join us and continue the conversation in your own communities. FREE PREVIEW: Spiritual Violence and Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith: https://soulforce.org/download/spiritual-violence/ Join in our community of Sinvergüenzas by visiting our Shameless Theology homepage or our Spanish WhatsApp Lista de Difusión. If you’d like to support this cutting-edge movement of ferocious Latine power building, please make a donation. | |||
| Love Letters From Rev. Sex S2:01 A Love Letter to the Grieving | 06 May 2026 | 00:19:34 | |
“Grief is not a disorder, a disease, or a sign of weakness. It is an emotional, spiritual and physical necessity, the price you pay for love. The only cure for grief is to grieve.” --- Earl Grollman When the waves of pain make everything feel senseless, Reverend Sex (Rev. Alba Onofrio) offers presence to those grieving amid violence, systemic harm, and spiritual overwhelm in this opening episode of Season Two. Reverend Sex names how many were taught to privatize grief or rely on clichés. They argue that a core lie of “bad theology” is treating God as fragile—unable to hold rage, despair, doubt, and the question “why.” Instead, Reverend Sex invites listeners to let grief move through the body, using water and candlelight as companions for release and transmutation, while calling on the divine, ancestors, and elements for strength. 00:00 Welcome Back Beloved 01:45 A Love Letter for Grief 03:37 Unlearning Fragile God 04:55 When Pain Makes No Sense 08:17 Water as Sacred Release 11:17 Opening Outward Together 12:32 Bless the Turning 14:37 Prayer for Holding Grief 18:11 Closing and Podcast Updates Hosted by Reverend Sex (Rev. Alba Onofrio - Executive Director of Soulforce), Love Letters from Reverend Sex is confession and revelation, intimate and inspirational. This weekly message from an ordained pastor, spiritual healer, and bruja troublemaker will empower you to reject practices of spiritual violence and eradicate shame and fear in your life. This is the spiritual home you’ve been looking for. The entire Shameless Theology podcast channel offers connection, reflection, and community for anyone feeling spiritually marginalized or exiled but still resiliently faithful. It’s a space for exploration--un/learning and re/membering our spiritual journeys through sharing the experience, wisdom, and connections Soulforce has built as an international LGBTQIA+ social justice nonprofit organization over the last 30 years. Join in our community of Sinvergüenzas by visiting our Shameless Theology homepage or our Spanish WhatsApp Lista de Difusión. If you’d like to support this cutting-edge movement of ferocious Latine power building, please make a donation. FREE PREVIEW: Spiritual Violence and Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith: https://soulforce.org/download/spiritual-violence/ Find episode transcripts at https://soulforce.org/podcast/ | |||
| Shameless Theology S2:01 Spiritual Violence and the Fight for Liberated Faith | 04 May 2026 | 00:42:06 | |
White Christian Supremacy was brought to this continent through violent conquest. Subsequent nations and societies have been founded on its death-dealing ethos, shaping collective consciousness and enforcing oppression at every level. It’s time we name the harm caused by this spiritual terrorism - not as abstract theories, but in the lived realities of the many marginalized people hurt by White Christian supremacy. In this season premiere episode, Reverend Sex and Nadia Arellano introduce the concepts explored in Soulforce’s new book Spiritual Violence: Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith to offer shared language for the rich conversations that fill this season. Learn about the work that went into this incredible resource and how it’s designed to spark conversation and inspire action.
Hosted by Reverend 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. Shameless Theology seeks to decolonize faith, mixing theological education with real-life experiences to support human rights and life abundant for all of Creation. Initially launched in Spanish as Teología Sin Vergüenza, this show addresses the monopolization of religious discourse by the extreme Right. Here, we gather people of diverse faith backgrounds and Christian denominations--pastors, activists, and scholars--to discuss gender identity, the erotic, and real life in the context of a radically inclusive faith, aiming to heal the wounds of colonizing religion and create a welcoming space for topics often considered taboo in religious spaces. This season forefronts our new book: Spiritual Violence: Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith. This timely resource identifies and examines the consequences of white Christian Supremacy through historical context and case studies, centering lived experiences of marginalized people, and offers critical analysis and practical tools for healing and resistance. Each week, we’ll share engaging conversations with brilliant guests familiar with the work, as we explore the concepts and lived experiences of Spiritual Violence. The podcast is not a repetition of the book but an expansion of conversation adding new voices: experts in their fields who share their experience with our community. Even if you haven’t read the book yet, these are engaging conversations relevant to the here and how, and we invite you to join us and continue the conversation in your own communities. FREE PREVIEW: Spiritual Violence and Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith: https://soulforce.org/download/spiritual-violence/ Join in our community of Sinvergüenzas by visiting our Shameless Theology homepage or our Spanish WhatsApp Lista de Difusión. If you’d like to support this cutting-edge movement of ferocious Latine power building, please make a donation. | |||
| Love Letters From Reverend Sex S2:09 The Weight of Authority & Releasing the Burden That Was Never Yours | 01 Jul 2026 | 00:20:19 | |
Today’s episode opens with the restless energy of a storm moving across the Philippines and turns quickly toward a deeper reflection on authority–how it’s granted, how it’s abused, and how it can be reclaimed for healing. Reverend Sex (Rev. Alba Onofrio) traces their own path into ministry, shaped by a desire to understand what scripture truly says about Queer and Trans people and to question why certain leaders are allowed to define holiness, sin, and belonging. They offer a response to the question many have asked: “Who are you to speak for God?” Reverend Sex shares the practice of a reverse altar call, where LGBTQIA+ people return the burden of shame the church placed on them—releasing what was never theirs to carry and receiving a blessing in exchange. It becomes a moment of collective truth‑telling, apology, and the beginning of repair. This love letter closes with a meditation on what spiritual authority is for: not to control or condemn, but to name harm honestly and help communities heal. Reverend Sex invites both faith leaders and those who’ve been wounded by them into a shared work of transformation, ending with a prayer for courage, accountability, and the blessing of laying down what was never ours to hold. 01:41 Typhoon Winds and the Weight of Authority 02:28 Why I Became a Pastor 03:57 Who Gets to Speak for God? 04:39 Conversations with Queer Immigrants 07:22 “Who Are You to Speak for God?” 08:55 A Historic Queer Mass in Manila 09:45 The Reverse Altar Call 12:24 Returning the Burden That Was Never Ours 14:35 What Authority Is For 16:18 A Prayer for Healing and Accountability Hosted by Reverend Sex (Rev. Alba Onofrio - Executive Director of Soulforce), Love Letters from Reverend Sex is confession and revelation, intimate and inspirational. This weekly message from an ordained pastor, spiritual healer, and bruja troublemaker will empower you to reject practices of spiritual violence and eradicate shame and fear in your life. This is the spiritual home you’ve been looking for. The entire Shameless Theology podcast channel offers connection, reflection, and community for anyone feeling spiritually marginalized or exiled but still resiliently faithful. It’s a space for exploration--un/learning and re/membering our spiritual journeys through sharing the experience, wisdom, and connections Soulforce has built as an international LGBTQIA+ social justice nonprofit organization over the last 30 years. Join in our community of Sinvergüenzas by visiting our Shameless Theology homepage or our Spanish WhatsApp Lista de Difusión. If you’d like to support this cutting-edge movement of ferocious Latine power building, please make a donation. FREE PREVIEW: Spiritual Violence and Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith: https://soulforce.org/download/spiritual-violence/ Find episode transcripts at https://soulforce.org/podcast/ | |||
| Shameless Theology Season 2 Extended Trailer | 27 Apr 2026 | 00:03:26 | |
Shameless Theology is a unique podcast that amplifies ferocious Queer, Trans, and feminist, academically-trained Latine theologians who are living examples of counter-narratives and theological resistance to the political and religious threats our people face. Coming Out in May! SUBSCRIBE NOW! This media project is the first of its kind: a woman-led and queer-centered conversation space where Latine activists and theologians convene digitally across the Americas to discuss the alternatives to death-dealing theologies of Christian fundamentalisms that kill our spirits and impede our progress to equal rights and full human dignity— all from an unapologetically politicized faith perspective. Hosted by Reverend 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. Shameless Theology seeks to decolonize faith, mixing theological education with real-life experiences to support human rights and life abundant for all of Creation. Initially launched in Spanish as Teología Sin Vergüenza, this show addresses the monopolization of religious discourse by the extreme Right. Here, we gather people of diverse faith backgrounds and Christian denominations--pastors, activists, and scholars--to discuss gender identity, the erotic, and real life in the context of a radically inclusive faith, aiming to heal the wounds of colonizing religion and create a welcoming space for topics often considered taboo in religious spaces. This season forefronts our new book: Spiritual Violence: Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith. This timely resource identifies and examines the consequences of white Christian Supremacy through historical context and case studies, centering lived experiences of marginalized people, and offers critical analysis and practical tools for healing and resistance. Each week, we’ll share engaging conversations with brilliant guests familiar with the work, as we explore the concepts and lived experiences of Spiritual Violence. The podcast is not a repetition of the book but an expansion of conversation adding new voices: experts in their fields who share their experience with our community. Even if you haven’t read the book yet, these are engaging conversations relevant to the here and how, and we invite you to join us and continue the conversation in your own communities. FREE PREVIEW: Spiritual Violence and Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith: soulforce.org/download/spiritual-violence/ Join in our community of Sinvergüenzas by visiting our Shameless Theology homepage or our Spanish WhatsApp Lista de Difusión. If you’d like to support this cutting-edge movement of ferocious Latine power building, please make a donation. | |||
| Shameless Theology S1:11 Celebrating Shamelessness: Reflections on Our First English Season with Nadia Arellano | 22 Dec 2025 | 00:57:34 | |
In the season finale of Teología Sin Vergüenza — and the close of our very first English‑language season — host Reverend Alba Onofrio (Reverend Sex) and Soulforce Associate Director Nadia Arellano return to the heart of Queer and Feminist Latin American theology. Together, they revisit the conversations that shaped this season, reflecting on the wisdom shared by Queer and feminist Latine faith leaders, pastors, and theologians across the diaspora. For the first time, the hosts answer the same grounding questions they posed to every guest: What does it mean to be a Sinvergüenza? Who are your ancestors? Where is home? Their reflections open a tender, powerful dialogue about decolonial theology, language, spiritual resistance, and the healing work ahead. They also share a glimpse of their forthcoming book on spiritual violence, religious abuse, and spiritual healing strategies, which will be a primary focus of next season. Whether you’ve been with TSV since the Spanish‑language seasons or you joined us for this new chapter, this finale invites you into community, reflection, and shameless liberation. The Soulforce Podcast Channel will be taking a six‑week break after this week’s episode of Love Letters from Reverend Sex. This is the perfect time to catch up on any episodes you may have missed. We’d also love to hear from you — your feedback, questions, and ideas help shape what comes next. Connect with us on social media at @soulforceorg or send us an email at hello@soulforce.org. 00:00 Introduction to Queer and Feminist Theology 01:34 Season Finale and Reflections 02:48 Language and Diaspora 05:31 Bridging Gaps in Knowledge 09:26 Highlights and Personal Reflections 18:37 Embracing Shamelessness 27:19 Exploring the Concept of Home 30:38 The Body as a Home 32:01 Reclaiming Our Bodies and Identities 33:15 Honoring Our Ancestors 39:39 The Power of Shamelessness 45:51 Intergenerational Wisdom and Community 53:22 Season Finale and Future Plans 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. Find episode transcripts at https://soulforce.org/podcast/ | |||
| Friday From the Archives S1:03 12 Reflections from Soulforce: A 2025 Retrospective | 19 Dec 2025 | 01:42:19 | |
In this season finale, host Nadia Arellano, Associate Director at Soulforce, guides listeners through a year-in-review from 'Friday From the Archives,' highlighting the organization's steadfast commitment to ending religious and political oppression of LGBTQIA+ people. This episode features 12 reflections that encapsulate the highs and lows of 2025, including escalating state-sanctioned violence, ICE raids, and the resilience of marginalized communities. Key voices from the Soulforce community, including Reverend Alba Onofrio, will present the reflections, sharing powerful messages of hope, resistance, and the enduring strength of the LGBTQIA+ community. Each reflection underscores the importance of solidarity, creative defiance, and unwavering commitment to justice amidst ongoing challenges. You’ll find the start time of each reflection listed below. Whether you listen in one sitting or savor a reflection each day, let this episode inspire your own end‑of‑year meditation. 00:00 Introduction to 12 Reflections from Soulforce: A 2025 Retrospective 04:15 Reflection #1 We’re still here Read by: Rev. Alba Onofrio 10:20 Reflection #2 The Serpentdove Read by: Bryony Dick 16:39 Reflection #3 Gratitude and hope Read by: Orion Johnstone 26:36 Reflection #4 Holy troublemakers Read by: Maura Fernandez 34:40 Reflection #5 ICE raids and standing against supremacy Read by: Nadia Arellano 40:52 Reflection #6 No Kings, Yas Queens Read by: Cole Parke-West 49:29 Reflection #7 Relentless Resistance Read by: Meg Sharkey 58:12 Reflection #8 We are the ones we’re waiting for Read by: phoenix rahel 01:05 Reflection #9 Our future is not set Read by: Andrea Cappa 01:13:52 Reflection #10 Doing the work, connecting community Read by: Anar Amin 01:20:52 Reflection #11 Responding to ICE’s Spiritual Terrorism Read by: Andrea Cappa 01:30:44 Reflection #12 Changing the narrative Read by: Maura Fernandez 01:39:47 Conclusion: Until next year This episode marks the season finale of Friday From the Archives. After next week’s finale of TSV: Shameless Theology and Love Letters from Reverend Sex, the Soulforce Podcast Channel will take a six‑week break before returning with a new season in early 2026. In the meantime, we invite you to revisit past episodes you may have missed, share your favorite moments with friends, and send us your feedback or suggestions for next season. Your voices help shape the future of this show, and we look forward to returning with even more powerful conversations. Leave a comment on this episode wherever you listen to podcasts, find us on social media @soulforceorg or email us at hello@soulforce.org Friday From the Archives is hosted by Nadia Arellano, the Associate Director of Soulforce. The other content on this channel is Hosted by Rev. Sex (Rev. Alba Onofrio - Executive Director of Soulforce). Soulforce’s 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. 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. 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. Find episode transcripts at https://soulforce.org/podcast/ | |||
| Love Letters From Rev. Sex S1:10 The God-Bearer Was a Joyful Rebel | 17 Dec 2025 | 00:32:10 | |
In this Advent episode, Reverend Sex reframes joy as a form of sacred resistance—one that refuses the binary logic of white Christian Supremacy. Drawing from decolonial theology, queer Latina spirituality, and Marian devotion, the episode invites listeners to hold grief and joy together while recovering Mary—not as a symbol of submission, but as a protagonist in a long lineage of anti‑imperial resistance. Key Themes
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. 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. 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. Find episode transcripts at https://soulforce.org/podcast/ | |||
| Shameless Theology S1:10 Embracing Identity & Rejecting Racial Binaries w/ CasSandra Calin | 15 Dec 2025 | 00:54:08 | |
Rev. Alba welcomes CasSandra Calin, a Queer, feminist, Black-Cuban healer, who is passionate about spirit work, identity, divinity and pleasure. Together, they explore what it means to claim shamelessness as a spiritual, political, and embodied practice, especially for Black, Queer, and diasporic people whose lives have been shaped by religion, race, gender, and colonial identity rubrics. CasSandra reflects on growing up with multilayered shame coded as holiness, humility, and goodness—stories reinforced by Christianity and white Christian Supremacy that fractured connection to body, desire, culture, and self. From reclaiming Cuban identity without fluency or permission, to navigating Afro-Latinidad, anti-Blackness, exoticization, and erasure, this episode traces a powerful arc from performance and respectability toward belonging in one’s own body. CasSandra and Rev. Alba talk about diaspora, the queer and trans church in Cuba, ancestral recognition, and the profound healing that happens in community. The conversation moves into spiritual violence—how God-language is weaponized to justify harm—and the slow, liberatory work of shedding those narratives. Rev. Alba shares how queerness, therapy, prayer, food, fire, poetry, and nature have become sites of resistance, healing, and pleasure. We discuss the difference between being “gay” and being queer, agency as a spiritual muscle, therapy as ministry, and the questions that can ground us in an overwhelming political moment. We close by honoring ancestors—blood, chosen, intellectual, poetic—and the feminine, magnetic, expansive lineages that make survival, joy, and freedom possible. CasSandra Calin (she/her/hers) is a queer, feminist, Black-Cuban healer, who is passionate about spirit work, identity, divinity and pleasure. She has recently returned to school to obtain her Doctorate of Social Work. Her intention is to study the mental and spiritual wellness of LGBTQ+ activists. CasSandra is overjoyed to have been a part of Soulforce’s work to sabotage white Christian Supremacy since she first joined the 2015-16 Soulforce Southeast House Fellowship. 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. Find episode transcripts at https://soulforce.org/podcast/ | |||
| Love Letters From Rev Sex S1:09 Redefining Peace in a Chaotic World | 10 Dec 2025 | 00:23:01 | |
In this intimate “Love Letter,” Reverend Sex reflects on Advent’s theme of peace through a decolonial, justice-centered lens, challenging the idea that peace is simply the absence of conflict. Instead, this episode invites listeners into a deeper understanding of peace as integrity, sacred rest, and the spiritual discipline of doing the best we can amid injustice, exhaustion, and collective grief. From personal storytelling to global witness, the letter names the tension between “no justice, no peace” and the holy invitation to remain grounded, connected, and accountable to ourselves, our communities, and the divine. This episode offers a prayerful meditation for sacred timekeepers, agitators, caregivers, and anyone struggling to imagine peace in a world shaped by violence and displacement. Reverend Sex explores peace as an interdependent practice—rooted in trust, compassion, and shared responsibility—and invites listeners to practice a form of holy rest that does not abandon the work of liberation, but sustains it. The episode closes with a communal prayer and a call to share, reflect, and continue building life-giving, decolonized faith spaces together. 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. 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. 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. Find episode transcripts at https://soulforce.org/podcast/ | |||
| Shameless Theology S1:09 Radical Inclusion: Redefining Religious Borders w/ Rev. Yadi Martínez-Reyna | 08 Dec 2025 | 01:03:16 | |
What does it mean to create a church that includes everyone? From marginalized youth, to underprivileged families, all the way to the virtual realm where those who can't attend in person worship can find community online? In this vibrant episode, host Reverend Sex and guest Yadi Martínez-Reyna explore unique facets of ministry with a focus on queer inclusion and creative solutions. The conversation dives into personal experiences of advocacy, the creation of safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth, and radically inclusive practices within both real and virtual communities. Rev. Yadi shares their journey from a conservative upbringing in Texas to becoming a prominent figure in youth ministry and an ordained pastor in the virtual realm of Second Life. The episode highlights the innovative approaches used to support marginalized youth and the significance of providing inclusive spiritual care. Additionally, it touches on the personal challenges and rewards of raising a grandchild and re-learning approaches to education and parenting. Listeners are invited to reflect on the profound impact of community, radical authenticity, and creative adaptability. 00:35 Identity and Shamelessness 02:26 Life on the Border 04:30 Challenges in Youth Ministry 05:41 Innovative Youth Ministry Approaches 11:13 Creating Safe Spaces for LGBTQ+ Youth 21:03 Navigating Ministry in a Virtual World 31:36 A Unique Baptism Experience 32:50 Virtual Reality and Accessibility 35:05 Memorials in Virtual Worlds 37:06 Continuing a Legacy 45:41 The Role of a Virtual Pastor 48:07 Personal Reflections and Family Life 56:06 Ancestral Wisdom and Gratitude The Rev. Yadi Martínez-Reyna (M.Div.) is bilingual Latinx gender non-binary artist, a borderlander, a certified Spiritual Director, and founder of Color Splash Out, a non-profit organization dedicated to creating safe and brave spaces for LGBTQ+ Youth and their ally friends. Rev. Yadi is a co-pastor at First UCC in Second Life (firstuccsl.org), a virtual church with real standing in the Southern California Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ. 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. Find episode transcripts at https://soulforce.org/podcast/ | |||
| Love Letters From Rev. Sex S1:08 Advent as a Time of Healing and Resistance | 03 Dec 2025 | 00:24:25 | |
Reverend Sex invites listeners into an intimate reflection on sacred time, queer survival, and the fierce, embodied hope we carry into the Advent season. Coming to us in a moment of exhaustion, tenderness, and deep yearning for connection, Rev. Sex opens up about the loss many of us feel after leaving church spaces—particularly the loss of shared ritual, rhythm, and timekeeping that once gave shape to our lives. As the community enters the first week of Advent, Rev. Sex reclaims this season as a site of resistance to consumerism and despair, offering an invitation to find grounding outside the pressures of capitalism, comparison, and holiday perfectionism. Instead, Rev. Sex centers the ancient practice of preparing for light in the darkest time of year—a reminder shared by many cultures long before Christianity. This episode explores:
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. 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. 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. Find episode transcripts at https://soulforce.org/podcast/ | |||
| Shameless Theology S1:08 The Home We Carry: The Beautiful Agony of Diasporic Identity w/Jessica Vazquez Torres | 01 Dec 2025 | 01:18:20 | |
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 Introduction 00:13 Exploring Identity and Personal Connections 03:55 Defining Home and Diaspora 06:46 Navigating Diasporic Experiences 09:23 The Role of Community and Belonging 23:19 Faith, Religion, and Cultural Identity 31:46 Colonial History and Its Impact 37:21 Imposing Protestant American Christianity 38:26 Impact of American Middle-Class Values 39:33 Colonial Project and Diaspora 41:09 Bad Bunny and Puerto Rican Identity 48:01 Decolonization and Latinidad 01:07:38 Spiritual Ancestors and Home Jessica 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. Find episode transcripts at https://soulforce.org/podcast/ | |||
| Love Letters From Rev. Sex S1:07 A Love Letter to Those Who Can't Pray Anymore | 26 Nov 2025 | 00:32:07 | |
This episode is a heartfelt exploration of prayer, aimed at those who feel alienated by traditional religious practices or believe that God doesn't want to hear from them. With an emphasis on God's omnipresence and the concept of 'Imago Dei,' Reverend Sex shares their personal belief that every individual carries a spark of the divine within them. The episode offers guidance on how to rekindle the practice of prayer through non-traditional methods and personal connections, encouraging listeners to find their unique way to communicate with the divine. The episode concludes with a prayer and a call to action for listeners to share their experiences and engage with the Soulforce community. 00:00 Introduction to Love Letters with Reverend Sex 00:51 Personal Reflections and Connection 02:03 The Importance of Prayer 02:50 Understanding the Divine and Imago Dei 07:33 Reconnecting with Prayer 11:20 Practical Tips for Prayer 22:30 Dealing with Silence and Judgment 25:42 Concluding Prayer and Final Thoughts 29:59 Closing Remarks and Call to Action 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. 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. 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. Find episode transcripts at https://soulforce.org/podcast/ | |||
| Shameless Theology S2:09 Living in the In-Between: The Wonder of Faithful Liminality w/ Dr. Arelis Benítez Pt. 2 | 29 Jun 2026 | 00:37:40 | |
In Part Two of our conversation with Dr. Arelis “Aly” Benitez, we continue exploring the lived realities of Spiritual Violence, white Christian Supremacy, and the survival strategies that emerge when communities demand that we split ourselves to stay safe. Rev. Alba Onofrio leads the conversation into a discussion of stubbornness as a spiritual virtue that can keep us connected to God even when church teachings are full of hypocrisy and contradictions. We discuss the value of learning to navigate liminality and how code‑switching becomes a form of wisdom and self-protection for those living at the intersections of multiple identities. Together, we explore the concept of Spiritual Terrorism and how fear, surveillance, and the threat of punishment shape the lives of undocumented families, Queer and Trans people, and anyone whose existence challenges the boundaries enforced by church or state. Aly shares how she learned to see herself as “bent but unbreakable,” and how healing becomes possible when we have language to name the harm and access to communities that accompany us through the work of questioning, discerning, and reclaiming our wholeness. Arelis Benítez, PhD (ella/she) serves as Assistant Professor of the Practice of Religion, Psychology, and Culture, and Director of Field Education at Vanderbilt Divinity School. Grounded in Chicana feminist theory and Mesoamerican wisdom, her scholarship reimagines pastoral theology, cultivating identity formation, cultural engagement, and spiritual care as pathways of transformation in theology and praxis. Hosted by Reverend 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. Shameless Theology seeks to decolonize faith, mixing theological education with real-life experiences to support human rights and life abundant for all of Creation. Initially launched in Spanish as Teología Sin Vergüenza, this show addresses the monopolization of religious discourse by the extreme Right. Here, we gather people of diverse faith backgrounds and Christian denominations--pastors, activists, and scholars--to discuss gender identity, the erotic, and real life in the context of a radically inclusive faith, aiming to heal the wounds of colonizing religion and create a welcoming space for topics often considered taboo in religious spaces. This season forefronts our new book: Spiritual Violence: Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith. This timely resource identifies and examines the consequences of white Christian Supremacy through historical context and case studies, centering lived experiences of marginalized people, and offers critical analysis and practical tools for healing and resistance. Each week, we’ll share engaging conversations with brilliant guests familiar with the work, as we explore the concepts and lived experiences of Spiritual Violence. The podcast is not a repetition of the book but an expansion of conversation adding new voices: experts in their fields who share their experience with our community. Even if you haven’t read the book yet, these are engaging conversations relevant to the here and how, and we invite you to join us and continue the conversation in your own communities. FREE PREVIEW: Spiritual Violence and Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith: soulforce.org/download/spiritual-violence/ Join in our community of Sinvergüenzas by visiting our Shameless Theology homepage or our Spanish WhatsApp Lista de Difusión. If you’d like to support this cutting-edge movement of ferocious Latine power building, please make a donation. | |||
| Shameless Theology S1:07 Spiritual Justice + the Ministry of Protecting Migrants from ICE w/ Arelis Figueroa | 24 Nov 2025 | 00:46:17 | |
Host Rev. Alba Onofrio welcomes Arelis Figueroa, who discusses the day to day details of accompanying migrants to court dates and protecting them from ICE. Arelis also shares their journey from the Dominican Republic to New York. They discuss the importance of decolonial theology, the struggles of the immigrant community, and the essential work of organizing for justice. They dive into themes of mental health, resurrection, and the power of community, while learning about influential figures within the liberation theology movement. This episode is a testament to the resilience and unwavering spirit of those who fight for a more inclusive and equitable world. 00:00 Introduction to Queer and Feminist Theology 01:50 Defining 'Sin Vergüenza' and Personal Experiences 05:30 Journey to New York and Community Involvement 07:03 Ministry and Advocacy Work 11:46 Personal Journey and Faith 19:51 Finding Home in People 21:44 The Gift of Resurrection 22:35 Mental Health and Faith 26:39 Accompanying Immigrant Families 29:13 Christian Nationalism and Liberation Theology 37:47 Prophetic Imagination and New Creation 39:43 Honoring Ancestors and Their Legacy Arelis Figueroa is the Lead Pastor and Co-founder of La Iglesia del Pueblo and holds a Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary. She has worked with marginalized communities in New York City for more than thirty years. 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. Find episode transcripts at https://soulforce.org/podcast/ | |||
| Friday from the Archives S1:02 In the Beginning: A Queer Theological Perspective on Gender in Genesis 1 | 21 Nov 2025 | 00:38:01 | |
In this episode of Soulforce’s ‘Friday from the Archives,' host Nadia Arellano introduces a powerful sermon by Reverend Alba Onofrio, also known as Reverend Sex, delivered during the Episcopal Church's Gender Justice Jam in 2025. The sermon explores the concept of being made in the image of God beyond the gender binary, drawing from Soulforce's resource 'The Gender of God and Creation.' Reverend Alba challenges traditional interpretations of Genesis 1 and emphasizes the expansive, inclusive nature of divine identity, using examples from Hebrew texts and feminine and plural imagery for God. The episode emphasizes the importance of a broader, more inclusive understanding of the divine and invites listeners to reimagine traditional religious texts in ways that affirm gender diversity and expressions of love. Friday From the Archives is hosted by Nadia Arellano, the Associate Director of Soulforce. The other content on this channel is Hosted by Rev. Sex (Rev. Alba Onofrio - Executive Director of Soulforce). Soulforce’s 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. 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. 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. Find episode transcripts at https://soulforce.org/podcast/ | |||
| Love Letters From Rev. Sex S1:06 Audre Lorde and The Gospel of the Erotic | 19 Nov 2025 | 00:25:49 | |
In this episode of Love Letters, Reverend Sex introduces themself and discusses their background, the series' focus on queer and Latina identity, decolonial theology, faith, and gender justice. Rev. Sex explores the concept of the Gospel of the Erotic, inspired by Audre Lorde, as a deep life force and source of power for change. Reverend Sex shares her perspective on recognizing internal desires, dismantling patriarchal systems, and fostering community, emphasizing the importance of listening to the erotic for personal liberation and resistance against oppressive structures. The episode concludes with a prayer and an invitation for listeners to engage with the podcast and submit questions or stories for future discussions. 00:00 Introduction to Love Letters with Reverend Sex 00:51 Getting to Know Reverend Sex 02:22 The Gospel of the Erotic 02:29 Audre Lorde and the Power of the Erotic 07:37 Ethics of Life and Theology 08:52 The Erotic as a Source of Power 12:59 Challenges of Traditional Christian Expectations 17:16 Embracing the Erotic and Personal Power 22:59 Closing Thoughts and Future Plans 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. 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. 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. | |||
| Shameless Theology S1:06 Sacred Questioning: Liberation in Deconstruction w/ Karla Perez | 17 Nov 2025 | 01:04:16 | |
Host Reverend Sex (Rev. Alba Onofrio) welcomes Karla Perez, a licensed mental health therapist with a rich background in social justice and community wellness, to discuss queer and feminist theology. Karla shares her journey of embracing her identity as both a queer, non-binary person and an ally turned advocate. The conversation covers the founding of Ministerio Latino, challenges and revelations in her personal life, and the significance of decolonial theology in addressing real-world issues. They also explore the complex dynamics of being an immigrant, spiritual displacement, and maintaining faith amid political and community challenges. The episode highlights the importance of intersectional support, community building, and spiritual resilience. 00:00 Introduction to Queer and Feminist Theology 01:29 Meet Karla Perez: A Journey of Intersectionality 02:25 Exploring Identity and Breaking Norms 05:36 Navigating Expectations and Personal Growth 14:28 Founding Ministerio Latino: A Safe Haven 22:54 Rediscovering Self in New Spaces 29:49 The Concept of Home and Belonging 34:27 Discussing the Current Political Climate 35:01 Mental Health Advocacy in Arizona 39:04 The Intersection of Faith and Activism 45:35 Liberation Theology and Community Organizing 48:13 The Experience of the Diaspora 57:33 Spiritual Displacement and Ancestral Connections 01:00:15 Final Thoughts and Reflections Karla Perez (She/Her/They/Them) is a licensed mental health therapist currently living near Phoenix, Arizona. Karla has 20 years’ experience working in social justice and community wellness as an organizer and is passionate about the intersection of mental health and justice-making. She is the co-founder of Ministerio Latino, a ministry and space for migrants and LGBTQIA+ folks to express their faith/spirituality and create support systems of accompaniment. 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. Find episode transcripts at https://soulforce.org/podcast/ | |||
| Love Letters From Rev. Sex S1:05 The Pain of Conversion “Therapy” and Moving From Original Sin to Original Blessing | 12 Nov 2025 | 00:30:26 | |
In this heartfelt episode, Reverend Sex delves into the pervasive and damaging effects of conversion therapy, addressing those who have experienced it firsthand. They explore the societal and religious pressures to conform to heteronormative standards and discuss the flawed theology of original sin that perpetuates these harmful practices. Offering a contrasting perspective, Reverend Sex champions the idea of original blessing, celebrating the natural diversity and inherent goodness in all individuals. The episode concludes with a prayer for freedom, acceptance, and the embracement of one's true self. 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. 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. 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. Find episode transcripts at https://soulforce.org/podcast/ | |||
| Shameless Theology S1:05 Practicing Presence Amidst Capitalism’s Death-dealing Systems w/ ana | 10 Nov 2025 | 00:59:27 | |
Reverend Sex welcomes guest ana. They discuss their identification as a 'sinvergüenza' and their paths through gender identity, sexual identity, and overcoming intergenerational trauma. The guest shares a transformative moment of self-realization, choosing life amidst chronic pain and societal oppression. They delve into systemic poverty, social justice, and the intersections of faith and activism. The narrative continues with insights into the guest's family background, particularly their mother's resistive spirit, and their experiences in both Guatemala and the US. The episode emphasizes themes of community support, intergenerational care, and the importance of rituals in fostering connection and healing. It concludes with a reflection on the importance of a ministry of presence and the guest's commitment to building a world where everyone's needs are met through love, justice, and collective effort. 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 00:33 Defining Identity and Self-Discovery 03:08 A Transformative Moment 05:02 Commitment to Liberation and Love 08:27 Ministry and Organizing Work 11:58 Understanding Poverty and Systemic Issues 18:53 Personal Journey and Lineage of Resistance 27:33 A Friend's Call and a Journey of Healing 28:59 Organizing for Community and Self 30:05 The Intersection of Ministry and Organizing 31:14 Answering the Call to Seminary 32:39 Grief and New Beginnings 39:16 Ministry of Presence 47:36 Home and Diaspora 51:42 Lineage and Ancestral Guidance Rooted in Guatemala and shaped by global liberation movements of dispossessed peoples, ana’s work is grounded in the dismantling of capitalism, white supremacy, ableism, and patriarchy—with an unwavering commitment to collective liberation. They build community through a trauma-informed, intergenerational, and disability justice–centered praxis, organizing people to remember, reclaim, and revel in their shared power, beauty, and belonging. 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. Find episode transcripts at https://soulforce.org/podcast/ | |||
| Love Letters From Rev. Sex S1:04 A Love Letter to Our Ancestors - And the Magic Within Us | 05 Nov 2025 | 00:31:59 | |
In this intimate witching-hour love letter, Reverend Sex speaks to those who were once taught to fear their magic, distrust their ancestors, and turn away from ritual and remembrance. This episode arrives during the season of Halloween, Samhain, and Día de los Muertos in order to reclaim what was taken from us in the name of purity, control, and white Christian Supremacy. In This EpisodeReverend Sex shares: 💫 A midnight meditation on finding each other in a chaotic world 💫 The painful erasure of ancestral practices under white Christian Supremacy 💫 A call for faith communities to reclaim ministries of death, ritual, and care 💫 The spiritual and political power of ancestor work 💫 Confronting complicated lineages — colonizer and colonized, heroes and harm-doers 💫 The sacred task of tending to the stories we inherit and the futures we shape This episode honors those who were denied their histories — and those who are courageously reclaiming them. A Blessing from This EpisodeOur dead are still very much alive.Their legacies live in our bones, our breath, our choices.To remember them is to remember ourselves — and to heal what history tried to erase. 🌌 Take This With You You are not alone. Your people are with you — even the ones you never met, even the ones you wrestle with. There is power in remembering, and holiness in repair. 🖤 For Those Who Need to Hear ItThis love letter is for every church kid who was told magic was dangerous, every queer child who lost their ancestors to doctrine, every soul learning to speak again with the dead, and every heart choosing remembrance over forgetting. 📣 ConnectHosted 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. 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. 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. Find episode transcripts at https://soulforce.org/podcast/ | |||
| Shameless Theology S1:04 "The Shame" of the Undocumented: Identity, Healing, and Hope w/ Dr. Norma Ramirez | 03 Nov 2025 | 00:59:06 | |
Host Rev. Sex engages in a profound conversation with Dr. Norma Ramirez, discussing the intersections of undocumented status, shame, gender, and spirituality within the context of their personal and professional life. The dialogue navigates the parallels between political and religious shame, the influence of harmful theological narratives, and the significance of reclaiming one's inherent worth. Emphasizing collective healing and spirituality, they also explore the unknown aspects of a relationship with God and the importance of ancestral wisdom and interconnectedness in the journey toward justice and healing. 00:00 Welcome and Introduction 00:35 Understanding 'Sinvergüenza' 01:51 Personal Experiences of Shame and Guilt 03:27 Parallels Between Political and Religious Shame 06:19 Theological Education and Personal Reflections 10:20 Navigating Emotions and Trauma 15:55 Maintaining Humanity in Challenging Times 24:39 Facing Terror and Uncertainty 28:54 Exploring the Origins of Messages and Belonging 30:01 Checking In With Yourself and Questioning Messages 32:15 Navigating Shame, Gender, and Sexuality 40:43 The Journey Through Seminary and Faith 42:42 The Mystery of God and Personal Struggles 43:54 Fighting for DACA and Personal Resilience 50:26 Words of Wisdom and Ancestral Connections 53:42 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Dr. Norma Ramirez (She/ Her/ Ella) is a California and Nevada licensed psychologist dedicated to serving diverse populations, including undocumented immigrants, first-generation professionals, neurodivergent individuals, and the LGBTQ community. A passionate immigrant advocate, Dr. Ramirez was a plaintiff against DACA's 2017 rescission and has been recognized by the Biden and Harris Administration as a Latinx leader. Her professional approach is deeply influenced by her own marginalized identities, spirituality, activism, and varied professional roles. 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. Find episode transcripts at https://soulforce.org/podcast/ | |||
| Love Letters From Rev. Sex S1:03 Overcoming Rapture Trauma | 29 Oct 2025 | 00:29:20 | |
In this Love Letter, Rev. Sex grapples with the traditional Christian belief that non-Christians and individuals who do not conform to certain religious norms are destined for hell. Reflecting on personal experiences and teachings within the queer and trans community, the speaker questions whether a loving God would condemn people to eternal damnation. The conclusion is to decolonize their faith by rejecting a controlling and punitive image of God, and instead embracing a more inclusive and compassionate understanding of Christianity.
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. 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. 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. Find episode transcripts at https://soulforce.org/podcast/ | |||
| Shameless Theology S1:03 Spiritual Autonomy: Living Shamelessly After White Fundamentalism w/ Belén Morales | 27 Oct 2025 | 01:04:00 | |
Host Reverend Sex engages in an illuminating conversation with Belén Morales about the intersections of queer, trans, feminist, and faith identities within the context of Latin American theology. They explore the concept of living without shame, the challenges of growing up in fundamentalist communities, and the journey to reclaim self-trust and spiritual autonomy. Belén provides insights into their experiences of disentangling white supremacist and patriarchal beliefs within the church, connecting the dots to the current political moment and the role of ICE agents. The episode delves deep into the importance of decolonial theology, body sovereignty, and the continuous cycle of endings and rebirths in the pursuit of equity and justice. 00:00 Introduction to Queer and Feminist Theology 01:28 Guest Introduction: Belén's Journey 02:09 Growing Up in a Fundamentalist Context 06:46 Discovering Queerness and Self-Trust 12:46 Theological Studies and Awakening 19:02 Connecting Theology with Social Justice 31:58 Reflecting on Church Services and Capitalism 32:48 Growing Up in a Predominantly Black and Brown Community 34:21 The Influence of American Patriotism in Immigrant Churches 35:56 The Role of Military Service and Gender Roles 37:54 Connecting Political Education and white Christian Supremacy 41:44 Theological Connections and Individualism 49:41 Divesting from States and the Concept of Zionism 56:25 End Times and Resurrection 57:55 Defining Home and Ancestors 01:01:18 Final Thoughts and Gratitude Belén Morales (She/They/Ella/Elle) is a Mexi-Salvi queer lesbian from Oakland, CA. She holds a BA in Biblical Studies and a MA in Systematic and Philosophical Theology. They are passionate about queer liberation both in and out of the church. Belén works as a non-profit strategist and has worked with an array of social justice organizations to maximize their impact. 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. Find episode transcripts at https://soulforce.org/podcast/ | |||
| Love Letters From Reverend Sex S2:08 Sacred Before Legal: Pride, Love, Faith, and Belonging | 24 Jun 2026 | 00:24:03 | |
In this Pride‑season love letter from Manila, Reverend Sex (Rev. Alba Onofrio) reflects on officiating a quiet, deeply intimate wedding for a Queer and Trans couple in a country where their love cannot be legally recognized. Their story, two women who dated in college, drifted apart, and reunited nearly twenty years later, opens into a reflection on the midlife Queer awakening so many people experience after years of fulfilling family and societal expectations. Reverend Sex shares the many kinds of unions they’ve been asked to bless: couples rejected by their churches, undocumented partners seeking spiritual recognition, political and survival‑based marriages, and Queer families building home in unconventional ways. Each story affirms that love is sacred long before the state acknowledges it. The episode turns to the scriptural story of Ruth and Naomi as a Queer love story—two women who choose each other against all expectations, whose vows form the foundation of modern wedding liturgy. Reverend Sex explores how all of us read scripture through our own lenses, and how Queer people have always been part of the biblical lineage. 01:45 An Evening Love Letter from Manila 02:07 A Quiet Wedding in a Country Without Marriage Equality 03:03 The Pattern of Midlife Queer Awakening 4:26 When the Church and State Say No 07:10 Blessing the Loves the Church Rejects 9:07 Ruth and Naomi: A Queer Love Story in Scripture 14:28 Queer Lineages in the Story of Jesus 15:43 Reading the Bible Through Our Own Lenses 20:20 A Pride Prayer for All Who Seek Themselves in Scripture Hosted by Reverend Sex (Rev. Alba Onofrio - Executive Director of Soulforce), Love Letters from Reverend Sex is confession and revelation, intimate and inspirational. This weekly message from an ordained pastor, spiritual healer, and bruja troublemaker will empower you to reject practices of spiritual violence and eradicate shame and fear in your life. This is the spiritual home you’ve been looking for. The entire Shameless Theology podcast channel offers connection, reflection, and community for anyone feeling spiritually marginalized or exiled but still resiliently faithful. It’s a space for exploration--un/learning and re/membering our spiritual journeys through sharing the experience, wisdom, and connections Soulforce has built as an international LGBTQIA+ social justice nonprofit organization over the last 30 years. Join in our community of Sinvergüenzas by visiting our Shameless Theology homepage or our Spanish WhatsApp Lista de Difusión. If you’d like to support this cutting-edge movement of ferocious Latine power building, please make a donation. FREE PREVIEW: Spiritual Violence and Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith: https://soulforce.org/download/spiritual-violence/ Find episode transcripts at https://soulforce.org/podcast/ | |||
| Friday From the Archives S1:01 Nonviolence and the Spiritual Terrorism of ICE | 24 Oct 2025 | 00:49:27 | |
Today we bring you a conversation from the archives - Rev. Alba Onofrio, Nadia Arellano, Belén Morales, Maura Fernández Salas, Megan Sharkey, and Rev. Rhina Ramos discussing the spiritual violence of the ICE raids in Los Angeles and the ways that nonviolent resistance must be relentless, community-based, and founded on solidarity. They discuss the fragile nature of the regime's power and the overwhelming strength of Latine people across the USA. Friday From the Archives is hosted by Nadia Arellano, the Associate Director of Soulforce. The other content on this channel is Hosted by Rev. Sex (Rev. Alba Onofrio - Executive Director of Soulforce). Soulforce’s 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. 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. 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. Find episode transcripts at https://soulforce.org/podcast/ | |||
| Love Letters From Rev. Sex S1:02 Beyond Fear to Divine Companionship | 22 Oct 2025 | 00:24:08 | |
In this Love Letter, Rev. Sex speaks directly to those who have been taught to fear a wrathful God who threatens disobedience with eternal punishment. Reverend Sex breaks down the pervasive nature of fear within Christian theology, particularly the fear of hell and divine punishment, and how this fear can freeze believers. The right reverend emphasizes the importance of decolonizing one's understanding of God, shifting from a fear-based relationship to one centered on love, authenticity, and divine companionship. The episode concludes with a heartfelt prayer for those overwhelmed by fear and a call to practical action rooted in courage, community, and faith. 00:00 Introduction to Love Letters with Reverend Sex 01:38 Personal Reflections and Fear 02:29 Understanding Fear in Theology 05:05 Trauma Responses and Community Challenges 09:13 Decolonizing God and Faith 17:38 Prayers and Final Thoughts 21:35 Closing Remarks and Resources 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. 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. 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. Find episode transcripts at https://soulforce.org/podcast/ | |||
| Shameless Theology S2:08 Beyond the Binary: Embracing Queerness within Faith w/Dr. Arelis Benítez Pt.1 | 22 Jun 2026 | 00:38:21 | |
What happens when the place that taught you God’s love also teaches you to divide your spirit from your body—and to call your body the problem? In this week’s episode, we bring you Part One of our conversation with Dr. Arelis “Aly” Benítez, a beloved friend, colleague, and one of the people whose encouragement and editorial insight helped shape the book at the center of this season. Years ago, Aly joined us on TSV in Spanish to where she spoke publicly about her identity for the first time. Today, she reflects on that moment’s significance and emotions it still brings forward. Aly shares her story as a Queer daughter of Mexican migrant parents raised within the Seventh‑day Adventist tradition, and how the church’s teachings split her soul from her body long before she had language for sexuality. She describes the liminal space of being undocumented, the fear of losing community, and the impossible contradictions placed on Queer people who are told to love God while denying themselves. Together, we explore how spiritual violence and religious abuse take shape not only in doctrine, but in the internal fractures they create—fractures that can lead to profound spiritual and emotional harm. We discuss the survival strategies that helped her endure: theological imagination, resistance, and the deep knowing that God had never abandoned her, even when her church did. This episode mentions suicide. If you or a loved one is struggling with thoughts of self harm or suicide, please reach out for help. Contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by texting or calling 988. The Trevor Project offers 24/7 support for LGBTQ+ young people through text: 678-678, phone: 1-866-488-7386, or chat: www.thetrevorproject.org Join us next week for Part Two, where we continue this powerful conversation with Aly and trace the path from survival toward healing and community. We’ll explore topics like cognitive dissonance, getting comfortable with liminality, code switching as a survival skill, and stubbornness as a spiritual asset. Arelis Benítez, PhD (ella/she) serves as Assistant Professor of the Practice of Religion, Psychology, and Culture, and Director of Field Education at Vanderbilt Divinity School. Grounded in Chicana feminist theory and Mesoamerican wisdom, her scholarship reimagines pastoral theology, cultivating identity formation, cultural engagement, and spiritual care as pathways of transformation in theology and praxis. Hosted by Reverend 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. Shameless Theology seeks to decolonize faith, mixing theological education with real-life experiences to support human rights and life abundant for all of Creation. Initially launched in Spanish as Teología Sin Vergüenza, this show addresses the monopolization of religious discourse by the extreme Right. Here, we gather people of diverse faith backgrounds and Christian denominations--pastors, activists, and scholars--to discuss gender identity, the erotic, and real life in the context of a radically inclusive faith, aiming to heal the wounds of colonizing religion and create a welcoming space for topics often considered taboo in religious spaces. This season forefronts our new book: Spiritual Violence: Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith. This timely resource identifies and examines the consequences of white Christian Supremacy through historical context and case studies, centering lived experiences of marginalized people, and offers critical analysis and practical tools for healing and resistance. Each week, we’ll share engaging conversations with brilliant guests familiar with the work, as we explore the concepts and lived experiences of Spiritual Violence. The podcast is not a repetition of the book but an expansion of conversation adding new voices: experts in their fields who share their experience with our community. Even if you haven’t read the book yet, these are engaging conversations relevant to the here and how, and we invite you to join us and continue the conversation in your own communities. FREE PREVIEW: Spiritual Violence and Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith: soulforce.org/download/spiritual-violence/ Join in our community of Sinvergüenzas by visiting our Shameless Theology homepage or our Spanish WhatsApp Lista de Difusión. If you’d like to support this cutting-edge movement of ferocious Latine power building, please make a donation. | |||
| Love Letters From Reverend Sex S2:07 Trans Baptism and The Church of the Queerly Beloved in Asia | 17 Jun 2026 | 00:23:21 | |
In this sunrise love letter from Manila, Reverend Sex (Rev. Alba Onofrio) reflects on a weekend of Queer spiritual courage during the first-ever Culto Cuir in Asia—and Soulforce's first Deaf-centered Culto Cuir. As the city wakes, they recount the power and tenderness of the Trans baptism and name‑change ceremony, a ritual born in Ecuador and now carried across continents as a sacred act of reclamation. They share stories of those who stepped forward—some revealing their true names for the very first time, others affirming identities they’ve lived into for decades. Each baptism becomes a moment of wrestling and blessing, echoing the biblical lineage of name changes and the story of Jacob becoming Israel. Reverend Sex describes the trembling bravery of each person who came forward, hearts pounding, asking to be witnessed, affirmed, and blessed in the fullness of who they are. From the sacred water gathered across years of global Queer ministry to the choices of where each person receives their anointing—forehead, throat, heart, hands—this episode honors the beauty of Queer and Trans people claiming themselves in community. It is a meditation on courage, belonging, and the holy work of becoming. 01:45 A Sunrise in Manila 02:36 Culto Cuir Arrives in Asia 03:59 A Deaf-Centered Pride Celebration 04:43 The Origins of Trans Baptism 05:43 Claiming Our Names, Claiming Our Lives 08:56 Biblical Lineages of Renaming 13:30 The Sacred Water and the Anointing 16:15 The Blessing of Becoming 17:13 Witnessing Courage in Real Time 20:19 A Prayer for the Brave Hosted by Reverend Sex (Rev. Alba Onofrio - Executive Director of Soulforce), Love Letters from Reverend Sex is confession and revelation, intimate and inspirational. This weekly message from an ordained pastor, spiritual healer, and bruja troublemaker will empower you to reject practices of spiritual violence and eradicate shame and fear in your life. This is the spiritual home you’ve been looking for. The entire Shameless Theology podcast channel offers connection, reflection, and community for anyone feeling spiritually marginalized or exiled but still resiliently faithful. It’s a space for exploration--un/learning and re/membering our spiritual journeys through sharing the experience, wisdom, and connections Soulforce has built as an international LGBTQIA+ social justice nonprofit organization over the last 30 years. Join in our community of Sinvergüenzas by visiting our Shameless Theology homepage or our Spanish WhatsApp Lista de Difusión. If you’d like to support this cutting-edge movement of ferocious Latine power building, please make a donation. FREE PREVIEW: Spiritual Violence and Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith: https://soulforce.org/download/spiritual-violence/ Find episode transcripts at https://soulforce.org/podcast/ | |||
| Shameless Theology S2:07 The People Who Hurt Me the Most Gave Me the Greatest Gift w/ Zayn Silva | 15 Jun 2026 | 01:00:14 | |
Despite all the harm caused by evangelical churches, today’s guest, Zayn Silva, shares some of what they got right. Rev. Alba Onofrio and Zayn discuss his upbringing in a powerful Spanish-speaking Pentecostal family network with major political and media influence that organized New York’s largest anti-same-sex action in 2009. He shares how he was publicly outed, subjected to conversion therapy, and ultimately left the church he grew up in. After nearly ending his life, Zayn found an affirming Presbyterian church and learned to leverage the evangelical confidence he was raised with to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. Rev. Alba and Zayn discuss the Religious Abuse of his youth and the path he took to his current ministry in digital communications, as an elder in the Presbyterian church, and an active community advocate. Zayn also serves as a Board Member for Soulforce. This episode mentions thoughts of suicide. If you or a loved one is struggling with thoughts of self harm or suicide, please reach out for help. Contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by texting or calling 988. The Trevor Project offers 24/7 support for LGBTQ+ young people through text: 678-678, phone: 1-866-488-7386, or chat: www.thetrevorproject.org Zayn Silva is a Director of Communications, preacher, and human rights activist committed to fierce love and justice. As a transgender Latinx leader, he amplifies inclusive faith, digital ministry, and advocacy for LGBTQIA+ belonging in the church. He is also the founder of Transalike, working to reconnect Queer people with God’s house. Hosted by Reverend 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. Shameless Theology seeks to decolonize faith, mixing theological education with real-life experiences to support human rights and life abundant for all of Creation. Initially launched in Spanish as Teología Sin Vergüenza, this show addresses the monopolization of religious discourse by the extreme Right. Here, we gather people of diverse faith backgrounds and Christian denominations--pastors, activists, and scholars--to discuss gender identity, the erotic, and real life in the context of a radically inclusive faith, aiming to heal the wounds of colonizing religion and create a welcoming space for topics often considered taboo in religious spaces. This season forefronts our new book: Spiritual Violence: Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith. This timely resource identifies and examines the consequences of white Christian Supremacy through historical context and case studies, centering lived experiences of marginalized people, and offers critical analysis and practical tools for healing and resistance. Each week, we’ll share engaging conversations with brilliant guests familiar with the work, as we explore the concepts and lived experiences of Spiritual Violence. The podcast is not a repetition of the book but an expansion of conversation adding new voices: experts in their fields who share their experience with our community. Even if you haven’t read the book yet, these are engaging conversations relevant to the here and how, and we invite you to join us and continue the conversation in your own communities. FREE PREVIEW: Spiritual Violence and Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith: soulforce.org/download/spiritual-violence/ Join in our community of Sinvergüenzas by visiting our Shameless Theology homepage or our Spanish WhatsApp Lista de Difusión. If you’d like to support this cutting-edge movement of ferocious Latine power building, please make a donation. | |||
| Love Letters From Reverend Sex S2:06 Courage and Solidarity: Stories From the Global South | 10 Jun 2026 | 00:22:59 | |
In this week’s Love Letter, Reverend Sex (Rev. Alba Onofrio) invites us into a night sky in eastern North Carolina and into a story of breathtaking bravery from Soulforce’s global community. Drawing from Soulforce’s seed‑grant program, Reverend Sex shares how liberatory theological resources are translated into local languages so communities can resist Spiritual Violence on their own terms. But in one Global South country, where “promoting homosexuality” carries a 20‑year prison sentence, translation becomes an act of underground resistance. You’ll hear how local Queer women and allies organized a covert operation to bring these resources to life. Their courage becomes a blessing, a mirror, and a reminder: we are part of a global movement of people who risk everything for liberation. Reverend Sex closes with a prayer for boldness, solidarity, and the holy work of interrupting white Christian Supremacy wherever we are, with whatever we have. 01:41 Night Sky Courage 03:36 Soulforce Seed Grants 06:24 Translation Language Dilemmas 09:46 Illegal Files 11:52 Underground Printing Story 16:40 Courage Takeaways 18:59 Prayer for Boldness 21:33 Closing and Next Steps Hosted by Reverend Sex (Rev. Alba Onofrio - Executive Director of Soulforce), Love Letters from Reverend Sex is confession and revelation, intimate and inspirational. This weekly message from an ordained pastor, spiritual healer, and bruja troublemaker will empower you to reject practices of spiritual violence and eradicate shame and fear in your life. This is the spiritual home you’ve been looking for. The entire Shameless Theology podcast channel offers connection, reflection, and community for anyone feeling spiritually marginalized or exiled but still resiliently faithful. It’s a space for exploration--un/learning and re/membering our spiritual journeys through sharing the experience, wisdom, and connections Soulforce has built as an international LGBTQIA+ social justice nonprofit organization over the last 30 years. Join in our community of Sinvergüenzas by visiting our Shameless Theology homepage or our Spanish WhatsApp Lista de Difusión. If you’d like to support this cutting-edge movement of ferocious Latine power building, please make a donation. FREE PREVIEW: Spiritual Violence and Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith: https://soulforce.org/download/spiritual-violence/ Find episode transcripts at https://soulforce.org/podcast/ | |||
| Shameless Theology S2:06 How the Rhetoric of Religious Racism Sanctions Violence w/ Dr. Danielle Boaz & Dr. Gustavo Melo Cerqueira Pt.2 | 08 Jun 2026 | 00:39:48 | |
When food and water are denied in the aftermath of an earthquake on the basis of religious affiliation, white Christian Supremacy is laid bare. In part two of our conversation with Dr. Danielle Boaz and Dr. Gustavo Melo Cerqueira, Danielle offers a sweeping historical and political analysis of Haiti—from the Haitian Revolution to the 2010 earthquake and cholera outbreak—showing how anti‑Blackness, colonial mythology, and the demonization of African Diaspora religions converge to justify discrimination, vigilante violence, and even the denial of humanitarian aid. Their research documents how U.S.‑funded Christian NGOs and local churches have participated in this harm, revealing the mechanics of white Christian Supremacy in moments of profound crisis. We will also discuss the political and academic challenges of naming Spiritual Terrorism directly, and why research and precise language matter for communities resisting violence, for students seeking frameworks that match their lived experience, and for international advocacy efforts that require clarity rather than euphemism. Dr. Danielle N. Boaz is Professor of Africana Studies and Interim Director of Legal Studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Her research focuses on discrimination and violence against African diaspora religious communities from the nineteenth to the present. Dr. Boaz is the author of Banning Black Gods: Law and Religions of the African Diaspora (Penn State University Press 2021) and Voodoo: The History of a Racial Slur (Oxford University Press 2023);she is co-author of Silencing the Drum: Religious Racism and Afro-Brazilian Sacred Music (Amherst College Press 2024). Dr. Gustavo Melo Cerqueira: Dr. Gustavo Melo Cerqueira is the Babalorixá of Ilê Axé Omi Ogun siwajú and an artist of performance and presence working as an actor, director, and playwright. He serves as Vice President of the International Commission to Combat Religious Racism (ICCRR), a global initiative dedicated to studying and confronting religious racism through research, advocacy, and international collaboration. His work bridges scholarship and activism, addressing discrimination against African and African diaspora religions worldwide. Dr. Melo Cerqueira holds a Ph.D. in African and African Diaspora Studies and an M.A. in Arts from the University of Texas at Austin, and is an Adjunct Professor of Theater Education at UNIRIO. He has published widely in theater, performance, and religious studies, and is co-founder of Pele Negra – Escola de Teatro(s) Preto(s). Find more about their work at www.religiousracism.org Hosted by Reverend 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. Shameless Theology seeks to decolonize faith, mixing theological education with real-life experiences to support human rights and life abundant for all of Creation. Initially launched in Spanish as Teología Sin Vergüenza, this show addresses the monopolization of religious discourse by the extreme Right. Here, we gather people of diverse faith backgrounds and Christian denominations--pastors, activists, and scholars--to discuss gender identity, the erotic, and real life in the context of a radically inclusive faith, aiming to heal the wounds of colonizing religion and create a welcoming space for topics often considered taboo in religious spaces. This season forefronts our new book: Spiritual Violence: Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith. This timely resource identifies and examines the consequences of white Christian Supremacy through historical context and case studies, centering lived experiences of marginalized people, and offers critical analysis and practical tools for healing and resistance. Each week, we’ll share engaging conversations with brilliant guests familiar with the work, as we explore the concepts and lived experiences of Spiritual Violence. The podcast is not a repetition of the book but an expansion of conversation adding new voices: experts in their fields who share their experience with our community. Even if you haven’t read the book yet, these are engaging conversations relevant to the here and how, and we invite you to join us and continue the conversation in your own communities. FREE PREVIEW: Spiritual Violence and Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith: soulforce.org/download/spiritual-violence/ Join in our community of Sinvergüenzas by visiting our Shameless Theology homepage or our Spanish WhatsApp Lista de Difusión. If you’d like to support this cutting-edge movement of ferocious Latine power building, please make a donation. | |||