City Of Atlanta Settles With Ex-Fire Chief Who Compared Homosexuality To Bestiality

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Former Atlanta fire chief Kelvin Cochran was fired in 2015 after he wrote a book that compared homosexuality to bestiality.

On Monday, the City of Atlanta agreed to a $1.2 million settlement with former Atlanta fire chief Kelvin Cochran, who was fired after he wrote a book that compared homosexuality to bestiality.

In 2013, while serving as fire chief, Cochran wrote and distributed a religious book, "Who Told You That You Were Naked," which called homosexuality "vulgar" and a "perversion."

He was then suspended and fired in 2015.

Cochran filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city, claiming he was terminated because of his faith.

Former mayor Kasim Reed said Cochran was fired because he didn't get permission to author the book, leaving the city open to possible discrimination claims.

Last year, a federal judge ruled that the firing was not a free speech violation, but that the city's rule on getting permission for outside work, like writing a book, was unconstitutional.