ATLANTA — A former Atlanta fire chief, fired eight years ago over his self-published book that likened homosexuality to bestiality, spoke to a group of state government workers Monday for Black History Month. During the meandering speech, Kelvin Cochran said it was God’s plan to bring Africans to America as slaves, and that through slavery they could become Christians.
Cochran, who is Black, was fired in 2015 after city officials deemed that his book, titled “Who Told You That You Are Naked?” compromised his ability to oversee gay employees and put the city at risk of discrimination claims.
He quickly filed a federal lawsuit arguing he was wrongfully terminated because of his religious beliefs. No jury trial was held, but the city agreed to a $1.2 million settlement in 2018.
