ATLANTA–A city’s fire chief was dismissed by the mayor on what he calls religious grounds.
According to The Christian Post, Atlanta Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran, a 30-year veteran of the department, was fired after handing out copies of a book he wrote to colleagues. The religious book, which discussed his Christian beliefs, condemned homosexuality, saying gay sex acts are “vile, vulgar and inappropriate.”
He was let go just one month after being suspended without pay and asked to attend sensitivity training.
The New York Times reports that Cochran released a statement via the Alliance Defending Freedom saying:
I am heartbroken that I will no longer be able to serve the city and the people I love as fire chief, for no reason other than my Christian faith. It’s ironic that the city points to tolerance and inclusion as part of its reasoning. What could be more intolerant and exclusionary than ending a public servant’s 30 years of distinguished service for his religious beliefs?
Mayor Kasim Reed said the dismissal wasn’t due to Cochran’s religious beliefs, but instead due to a lack of judgement and because he didn’t abide by protocols saying he had to get city approval to publish a book, according to The New York Times. The times says that Cochran disputes that claim.
