Big Gay Tie-dye day brings an unusual visitor to campus

On Tuesday, April 12th,  "a man of God" named Burt made his way around Plymouth State University's campus carrying an eight foot cross, spreading the "good news." Burt's work became a bit of a controversy however, when he made some offensive comments to PSU Pride Secretary Jocelyn Howard. 

"I was saved when I was sixteen years old," said Burt who requested to not give his last name, as what he was doing was for God's glory, not his own. 

Burt mainly made comments such as "Jesus loves you" to students as they were walking by, but this quickly changed when he was offered a t-shirt by Howard. Howard was offering t-shirts to many making "ally" t-shirts with PSU Pride on Alumni Green as a part of "Big Gay Tie-Dye Day." 

According to Howard, Burt told her he did not believe in what she was doing. When she asked him what he meant, Burt when on to tell her that he believed that being gay was a sin.

Howard said that she went on to have a calm discussion with Burt for a few minutes on equality for all people. Burt concluded the discussion with asking Howard some negative presumptuous questions. 

Eventually Associate Director of the HUB Kerry Keating came out and asked Burt to move off campus. Keating did tell Burt that individuals not involved with the University were allowed to reserve tables in the HUB and hand out fliers if they desired, but since he had not done so, he needed to move his display to the sidewalk. 

Burt responded well to Keating and thanked her. He continued to tell students that Jesus loved them as they walked by, and also talk about how Jesus died for sinners to be forgiven, and therefore only sinners could enter heaven. Burt claimed that the news he had was equivalent to knowing the cure for AIDS, and it was as if he was running through a hospital with it trying to get people to listen. When asked if he was on campus because it was PSU Pride Week, he said, "Not unless the Lord planned it that way." 

Howard was not phased by Burt however, and continued to make and offer shirts to students. "It kind of brought us more together. I think his reaction and acts were more in our favor than his." Other PSU Pride members shared the same view on the situation and continued tie-dying well into the afternoon.