Gary Eugene Birdsong, commonly known as Preacher Gary or The Pit Preacher, 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 often argues vehemently with other, more moderate Christians who accuse him of misrepresenting the Christian faith and driving people away from it with his extremism.
Birdsong, known to his audience as the New Quad Preacher (at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte), Pit Preacher (at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), the Sanford Mall Preacher (at Appalachian State University), the Brickyard Preacher (at the North Carolina 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, racism, and demonic possession.[1]
Preaching style and repertoire
Birdsong uses a theatrical, accusatory style of preaching because he believes "getting people angry is his most effective method of preaching".[2] He often offends students with his fundamentalist views, such as his belief that "white folks are different, black folks are different and when you start mixing them up there's a lot of confusion", and his opinion on feminism is that "it ain't in the Bible".[3] His views frequently result in heated debates with students,[4] though he says it is not until "folks get attitudes that I get attitude".[2]
When asked by a student interviewer his opinion on UNC being a liberal university, he responded, "This University is the most stupidest place I have ever been."[2] He called the administration "wicked people", and said, "they've perverted the First Amendment — the state was told not to interfere with the First Amendment, the freedom to practice religion. Well, just look at what religion they're talking about! It's Christianity — look at the founding fathers!"[5] His nickname for the university is "Homo Hill",[4] his view on homosexuality being that it is "an abomination to God".[3][dead link]
Student reactions
UNC-Chapel Hill students providing a musical ambush of BirdsongBirdsong standing next to a student in the Pit in 2018
On March 8, 2007, Birdsong was removed from The Pit by Campus 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, Birdsong entered The Pit near their table and began to preach. They asked him to move away from their table, and Birdsong moved to the other side of The Pit. The representatives for Carolina Adventures did not feel this was sufficient and asked UNC Police to remove Birdsong from the area. After refusing to move farther away, he was removed to loud jeers directed at the police from the crowd that had gathered to watch him preach.[4] A similar incident occurred in the 1980s resulting in his arrest.[4]
Birdsong was issued a trespass warning that prohibited him from entering The Pit for two years. Following the incident, he returned to preach, initially in front of Davis Library, about 100 feet from The Pit, and later about 200 feet away, in front of Wilson Library on Polk Place, which he referred to as "the Homo Zone".[4] During this dislocation, he was sometimes referred to as the "adjacent to the Pit preacher".[6] In March 2009, Birdsong's two-year banishment from The Pit expired and he once again returned to preach in The Pit. Some students were glad to see him return to this popular spot after his extended absence,[7] but the overall reaction was mixed.[6] Some disagree with his beliefs but feel he has a right to be there. Others just find him entertaining.[4]
Backstory
Birdsong professes to be an ex-Hells Angel,[5] citing that fact multiple times when he is preaching about forgiveness. He claims that his "calling" came to him in the middle of 40 Hells Angels in Durham County in North Carolina.
The University of North Carolina is the multi-campus public university system for the state of North Carolina. Overseeing the state's 16 public universities and the NC School of Science and Mathematics, it is commonly referred to as the UNC System to differentiate it from its flagship, UNC-Chapel Hill.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. It is the flagship of the University of North Carolina system. After being chartered in 1789, the university first began enrolling students in 1795, making it one of the oldest public universities in the United States.
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The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a coeducational public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States. It is one of three schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States. The first public institution of higher education in North Carolina, the school opened on February 12, 1795.
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