ATLANTA -- Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed terminated the city's fire chief after he published controversial comments in his book Who Told You That You Were Naked?
The book called homosexuality "unclean", "a sexual perversion", "vulgar", and "inappropriate".
Author and Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran received a month-long suspension in November. At the time, Mayor Reed said, "I want to be clear that the material in Chief Cochran's book is not representative of my personal beliefs, and is inconsistent with the administration's work to make Atlanta a more welcoming city for all citizens -- regardless of their sexual orientation, gender, race, and religious beliefs."
At a press conference Tuesday afternoon, Mayor Reed announced Cochran had been "relieved" of his position.
"Not one time during the course of preparing this book did Chief Cochran ever think that it was appropriate to have a conversation with me despite the fact that I have made my opinion --and this administration's opinion -- clear on this topic," Reed said.
Reed said Cochran was given an opportunity to resign and refused. "Bottom line, he was terminated," Reed said.
Cochran spoke to reporters after the press conference. Still in uniform, he said "I'm not apologetic for writing the book."
He said he will not hide his Christian faith.
"Everything I wrote in the book is based on scriptures, not my opinions," said Cochran.
Cochran said he only learned that he was losing his job about an hour before Mayor Reed held his press conference.
"LGBT citizens deserve the right to express their belief regarding sexual orientation and deserve to be respected for their position without hate and discrimination, but Christians also have the right to express their beliefs as well," said Cochran.
Cochran said that he ran the idea of the book behind the city's ethics department and didn't receive any pushback. He said that he gave Mayor Reed copy of the book a year ago.
The only openly gay member of Atlanta's City Council, Alex Wan, released a statement on Reed's decision:
I support the administration's decision to terminate Kelvin Cochran's employment with the City of Atlanta. His actions made it a difficult work environment for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender employees within the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department. This sends a strong message to employees about how much we value diversity and how we adhere to a non-discriminatory environment.
I pledge my full support to Interim Fire Chief JoelBaker and LGBT Community Liaison Robin Shahar in implementing whatever programs and steps they recommend to create a safe working environment for all employees within the department.
The statement from Wan said the suspension came after some of Cochran's employees complained about internal distribution of his self-published book. Mayor Reed would not discuss details of the investigation.
Reed said that the Fire and Rescue Command staff and his cabinet will undergo sensitivity training.
"We wanted the city to take strong, decisive action which today they've done," said Stephen Borders, president Atlanta Professional Firefighters.
Borders took his colleagues' complaints about Chief Cochran's self published book to the City before the controversy went public.
"It was the fire chief. He is our judge, and our jury, and our executioner when it comes to disciple. He is the ultimate representative of the city when it comes to public safety," Borders said.
Cochran said as a Christian he is not apologetic for writing it.
The Faith and Freedom Coalition posted a call to action on its website, asking members to contact the mayor demanding Cochran be reappointed.
"In our country we don't punish people for the potential to discriminate we punish them for actually discriminating. To our knowledge unless the mayor knows about it and hasn't said so there's no allegation to speak of," explained spokesperson Robert Potts.
However Mayor Reed did not list discrimination as cause for termination. He said Cochran violated the city's code of conduct in releasing the book.
"This is about how we treat one another. And so those folks who are calling me and telling me I should retain him. I just want you to know one thing. His religious decisions are not the basis of the problem. His judgement is the basis of the problem," Reed said.
