Atlanta Fire Rescue Department Chief Kelvin Cochran landed himself in hot water this week when it was revealed that he’d been suspended for publishing an anti-gay book.
According to WSB-TV Atlanta, Cochran self-published a book about his Christian values, Who Told You That You Were Naked, in which he identifies himself as Atlanta’s fire chief and says his first priority as chief is to run the department “to cultivate its culture to the glory of God.”
Cochran also used the book to make disparaging remarks about the gay community, writing in the book that homosexuality is a “perversion” and is comparable to bestiality.
“Uncleanness — whatever is opposite of purity; including sodomy, homosexuality, lesbianism, pederasty, bestiality, all other forms of sexual perversion,” Cochran wrote in the book.
On Monday it was revealed that Cochran has been suspended for a month and must undergo sensitivity training as well.
According to city officials, one of the reasons they had to take action against Cochran is because he broke the rules by publishing a book without their knowledge.
“One of the most alarming things is that we did not know about the book when it was published,” said city spokeswoman Anne Torres, who also revealed that Cochran distributed an unknown number of books to his colleagues.
“We understand that he was distributing the book to other employees. We are still not sure what the circumstances surrounding them are,” Torres said.
Torres also explained that the city is concerned about how Cochran’s thoughts on the gay community might have affected his leadership abilities.
“The bottom line is that the Reed administration does not tolerate discrimination of any kind,” Torres said.
“I was surprised and disappointed to learn of this book on Friday. I profoundly disagree with and am deeply disturbed by the sentiments expressed in the paperback regarding the LGBT community. I will not tolerate discrimination of any kind within my administration,” said Mayor Reed in a statement released by his office.
It’s good to know that Reed takes the issue of LGBT discrimination so seriously. –nicholas robinson
