Kelvin Cochran
Authorities in the city of Atlanta are under fire today after dismissing their popular fire chief, Kelvin Cochran, because of statements he made about homosexuality in a book he recently self-published.
The Atlanta Journal Constitution is reporting that Cochran had just returned from a month-long suspension for comments he wrote criticizing homosexuality in his book, Who Told You That You Are Naked? when he learned that he was being dismissed from his job as the head of the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department.
The comments made in the book, which amounted to a scant paragraph in a 160 page book, expressed a biblical view of homosexuality. It came to the attention of gay activists who began to pressure the city to fire him – which they eventually did, insisting that Cochran’s views were inconsistent with their employment policies.
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed announced Tuesday that he decided to terminate Cochran because he wasn’t consulted before publishing the book, and because the fire chief spoke out about his suspension even after being told to keep silent. Also, by handing out the book to employees of the city, he opened the door to potential discrimination lawsuits by LGBT employees.
Cochran, a church deacon at Elizabeth Baptist Church, insists that he never meant to be hurtful to anyone when expressing his religious views in his book which he admittedly gave to some members of the fire department who were personal friends.
“LGBT citizens deserve the right to express their beliefs regarding sexual orientation, and deserve to be respected for their positions without hate and discrimination,” he said.
“But Christians also have the right to express their beliefs regarding sexual orientation and be respected for their position without hate and without discrimination. In the United States, no one should be vilified hated or discriminated against for expressing their beliefs.”
However, the mayor insists that his decision had nothing to do with Cochran’s faith.
“His religious (beliefs) are not the basis of the problem. His judgment is the basis of the problem.”
Not everyone is buying it, and a firestorm has erupted over the termination.
Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, called the mayor’s denial of religious discrimination “ridiculous” and claims Reed is only trying to quell the avalanche of outrage being poured into Atlanta over the unjust treatment of a long-time faithful servant of the city.
“Obviously it’s one thing to use your platform to intimidate subordinates, but the idea that you should have to surrender your First Amendment rights merely for being a public servant is outrageous,” Perkins said. “Clearly the goal is to sanitize the public space of all religious content – whether or not it is constitutional, which this is.”
Cochran told Fox News’ Todd Starnes that he is pursuing his legal options, but has no intention of trying to get his old job back.
“I believe God has greater things for me,” the father and grandfather said. “I’m not discouraged and I’m not downtrodden. This is a God thing and He’s going to do great things and He will vindicate me publicly.”
The FRC has launched a petition drive in support of Cochran. Click here to show your support!
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