Gary Birdsong
Gary Eugene Birdsong, commonly known as Preacher Gary or simply Gary, is a travelling fundamentalist Christian preacher who frequents college campuses across the United States, particularly in North Carolina. He is known for his unorthodox interpretation of the Bible and his theatrical, accusatory style of preaching. He will often argue vehemently with other, more moderate Christians, who often accuse him of misrepresenting the Christian faith and driving people away from it with his extremism.
Birdsong, known to his audience as the Pit Preacher (at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), the Brickyard Preacher (at North Carolina State University), the Sanford Mall Preacher (at Appalachian State University), and the Joyner Steps Preacher (at East Carolina University) has a large repertoire of subjects on which he preaches, ranging from the standards of heaven and hell, to drug use, premarital sex, homosexuality, Islam, atheism, feminism, communism, masturbation, rock and rap music, abortion, evolution, tolerance, politics, war, fashion, witchcraft, and demonic possession.[1]
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[edit] Students' reactions
On March 8, 2007, Birdsong was removed from The Pit by UNC Police following an incident. According to reports, members of the UNC outdoor recreation program Carolina Adventures had reserved half of The Pit to promote their programs. Shortly after they set up their materials, Gary entered The Pit near their table and began to preach. They asked him to move away from their table, and Birdsong moved about five feet from his previous location. The representatives for Carolina Adventures did not feel this was sufficient and subsequently summoned UNC Police to remove Birdsong from the area. He was removed to loud jeers directed at the police from the crowd that had gathered to watch him preach.[2]
Birdsong was issued a trespass warning that prevents him from entering The Pit for two years. Since the incident he has come back to preach, initially in front of Davis Library, about 100 feet from The Pit, but now can be found about 200 feet away, in front of Wilson Library on Polk Place. Due to his new location, he was sometimes referred to as the "adjacent to the Pit preacher".[3]
In March 2009, Gary's two year banishment from The Pit expired and he once again returned to preach in The Pit on the UNC campus. Some students were glad to see him return to The Pit after his two year absence,[4] while other students complain that he is violating the University's Fighting Words policy [1] by calling young women extremely distasteful names as they walk past the pit between classes.
[edit] Backstory
Birdsong professes to be an ex-Hells Angel, citing that fact multiple times when he is preaching of forgiveness. He claims that his "calling" came to him in the middle of 40 Hells Angels in Durham County in North Carolina.
In his teachings, Gary has referenced at least one marriage, which is commonly believed to have ended in divorce, and at least one child, with two grandchildren.
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ "'You're going to hell' say campus preachers". Niner Online. 2008-05-30. http://www.nineronline.com/2.5290/1.545778. Retrieved 2009-03-24.
- ^ "'Pit Preacher' Banned From UNC-Chapel Hill". WRAL.com. 2007-03-09. http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/1229617/. Retrieved 2009-03-24.
- ^ "Pit Preacher returns to campus". The Daily Tar Heel. 2007-03-21. http://media.www.dailytarheel.com/media/storage/paper885/news/2007/03/21/University/Pit-Preacher.Returns.To.Campus-2783776.shtml. Retrieved 2007-03-21.
- ^ "Back in the pit". The Daily Tar Heel. 2009-03-19. http://www.dailytarheel.com/news/university/back_in_the_pit-1.1621433. Retrieved 2009-03-24.
[edit] External links
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