Interviewer
Eden Kitts
Description
Robin Kendall describes moving from the U.S. South to Missoula, Montana in 2011, in a relationship with someone she met online. She soon fell in love with the state and took a job with Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI), making Missoula her home. Robin reflects on her childhood in Louisiana and Mississippi in deeply religious Catholic and Southern Baptist settings. Out of fear of losing family support and stability, she concealed her identity as a lesbian through high school and college, only coming out in her mid-twenties. She recounts her mother’s initial negative reaction and eventual acceptance before her death. Kendall also discusses leaving Christianity for several years before finding her way back through an affirming United Church of Christ congregation in Memphis, Tennessee. Reflecting on the harm done by evangelical Christianity, she emphasizes the importance of reframing biblical texts through historical context and compassion, exploring stories such as David and Jonathan as examples of more inclusive interpretation. Undergraduate student Eden Kitts interviewed Kendall for Dr. Jody Pavilack’s Practicing Oral History class.
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Document Type
Oral History
Subjects
Religion, Pride, evangelical, biblical, Louisiana, Mississippi, the South, Southern Baptist, United Church of Christ, bible study, LGBTQIA+
Original Date
11-24-2025
Time Period
Twentieth century; Twenty-first century
Geographic Coverage
Montana
Language
eng
Original Collection
Queer In and Out of Montana Oral History Project, OH 494, Archives & Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, University of Montana
Digital Publisher
University of Montana--Missoula. Mansfield Library
Rights
Copyright to this collection is held by the interview participants and by the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula. Permission may be required for use. For further information please contact Archives and Special Collections: (406) 243-2053 / email Archives and Special Collections
Oral History Number
OH 494-022
Media Type
Sound; Text
Original Format
audio/mp3; application/pdf
Digital Format
audio/mp3; application/pdf
Run Time
00:38:31 minutes
Local Filename
OH_494_022_audio_use.mp3; OH_494_022_transcript.pdf
Citation
Kendall, Robin, "Robin Kendall Interview, November 24, 2025" (2025). Queer In and Out of Montana Oral History Project. 20.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/queermontana_oralhistories/20