The Big Debate - Ben Bartels and Paul Jensen

In November of 2013, Atlanta Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran published a book entitled Who Told You That You Were Naked? Overcoming the Stronghold of Condemnation. The book articulated traditional Christian beliefs about marriage and sexuality. 

Close to a year after its publication, Cochran was suspended without pay. On 24 November 2014, the Mayor stated the following, in part, on his Facebook page: “I profoundly disagree with and am deeply disturbed by the sentiments expressed in [Cochran’s book] regarding the LGBT community . . .” 

While the investigation found no evidence Chief Cochran had treated lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees unfairly, he was subsequently fired.