Fallout Continues Following Fire Chief's Ouster

Former Atlanta Fire Rescue Department Chief Kelvin Cochran. Credit: City of Atlanta

Some members of Atlanta’s Christian community are outraged at the dismissal of the former chief of the Atlanta Fire Department over what they believe was faith-based discrimination.

According to WSB-TV, Elizabeth Baptist Church pastor Dr. Craig L. Oliver said that Kelvin Cochran’s firing should concern Christians nationwide, and added that an organization should not be able to muzzle one of its employees for expressing his or her religious views.

The City of Atlanta, which fired Cochran last week, said that the firing had nothing to do with Cochran’s religious beliefs, but his failure to publish ”Who Told You You Are Naked?” without approval from the city, and his comments regarding the city’s investigation into the matter while the process was still ongoing.

”Who Told You You Are Naked?” was self-published by Cochran in 2013 and allegedly contains anti-gay sentiment, including comparing homosexuality to bestiality and calling homosexuality a perversion.

In late November, Cochran was suspended without pay when city leaders discovered he had published and distributed the book to members of the department without the permission or consent of the city. A spokesman for Mayor Kasim Reed said that the city did not tolerate discrimination or perceived discrimination against any class of people, including homosexuals.

On Jan. 6, Reed said during a press conference that the city and Cochran had decided to ”separate” in the wake of the controversy.