ATLANTA FIRE CHIEF - KELVIN COCHRAN - FIRED FOR ‘ANTI-GAY’ VIEWS ABSOLUTELY WANTS HIS JOB BACK

ATLANTA FIRE CHIEF - KELVIN COCHRAN - FIRED FOR ‘ANTI-GAY’ VIEWS - ABSOLUTELY WANTS HIS JOB BACK

 

Machine generated transcript, expect errors.

you know in the United States of America American said not have that 0:04 choose between 0:06 keeping your job in living out your they and that's the position that 0:11 the city of Atlanta actually has taken all who 0:19 0 0:21 of in January 2015 Kelvin Cochran 0:24 who at the time was fire chief in Atlanta Georgia was fired from his job 0:28 for writing and publishing a book 0:30 expressed his biblical understanding of sexual morality 0:33 in the book cochran broke from a Christian perspective 0:37 that same-sex sexual act like homosexuality 0:40 are one of many sexual sense this case has national implications for several 0:46 different reasons 0:47 first of all do we want the government deciding that anyone who holds views 0:51 that are in conflict with the government's view can't work 0:55 can't make a living I mean that should worry all of us regardless of your 0:58 religious viewpoints 0:59 ideological viewpoint your political viewpoints it should not matter what 1:03 views you hold 1:04 to hold the job and that's the first thing that you ever everybody the second 1:07 thing is is 1:08 is we have a right to religious freedom to be exercised in the constitution 1:13 and that gives the person the right to say look I don't have to choose between 1:16 my faith 1:17 and making a living but that's exactly the choice that the city put on cheap 1:20 cod 1:22 cheap cochran sat down with the daily signal for an exclusive interview about 1:26 life after being fired 1:27 and how he's mine in battle 1:31 this whole controversy came about because a 1:35 the specific portions in the book last spoke to the issue 1:38 of sexuality because many Christian me in struggle with issues 1:43 sexual sin and sexuality and so I spoke to that in the book 1:47 that 1:48 why God created sex and that God's purpose for sex was for procreation 1:54 and to do it his way it has to be done in holy matrimony 1:58 and that led to the controversy some other issue the Rays and your own views 2:04 on homosexuality 2:05 have caused controversy and some people say they are hurt by your views and that 2:11 you are impact discriminating I can people 2:14 who are gay lesbian live both sorta lifestyles 2:19 how would you respond to that the views expressed in 2:22 who told you you are naked a biblical views 2:26 that have stood for a 170 years thousands have years 2:31 I and they were express from Scripture 2:34 in the context at the book I so the say that they are 2:38 I Myb uses really not the appropriate 2:42 a truth for that matter and did you ever disturb you 2:46 the book to your own employees and do you think that they could have 2:49 interpreted 2:50 you disturbing in the book as he trying to push your beliefs on them 2:55 the distribution other book was based upon 2:58 I Christians who I had a actually 3:02 established a prior relationship with as believers 3:05 in price who were actually employees on the work I 3:09 at work and so there were other employees 3:13 I'll who were a recipients 3:16 at the book mess upon request thing the book that every person that received the 3:21 copy of the book I had already established a prior relationship with 3:25 them 3:25 at work as believers one other things I found interesting about the city ordered 3:31 you to undergo sensitivity training 3:34 and you seem like a pretty fat than a percent at 3:37 to me do you think that you need at if it was a requirement 3:42 you know certainly our on on the authority that place that requirement on 3:46 me 3:46 I but the through the Holy Scriptures 3:49 you know I've been trying to the highest degree love without condition 3:54 and love that does justice for you 3:57 really don't have any people feeling 4:00 toward people 4:02 my gay lesbian know I love all people 4:05 and again I'm willing to die my profession for 34 years 4:09 was to be willing to die for anyone under 4:12 any condition where I could possibly save a life and I'm still committed to 4:17 doing that today 4:18 and so there's there's no hatred 4:22 I just I mean this that love is the foundation of the Christian faith 4:27 and I i have live that out in my profession 4:30 but 34 years after being fired you are now 4:34 turning the tables and filing your own lawsuit fame at that the government is 4:39 discriminating 4:40 against you for your religious beliefs why did you decide to 4:45 fight back and bring the fossils well because a 4:48 in the United States of America we're guarantee the freedom 4:52 to live without fear have been terminated are experienced in any 4:57 adverse action 4:58 by the free expression a bar beliefs and thoughts 5:01 I and so it was an injustice against me on that basis 5:06 would you even like your job back after going for all this 5:09 absolutely is one of the things that I'm pursuing and a 5:13 hopefully I will be vindicated through the legal process 5:16 and 2008 President Obama appointed you to the most prestigious position 5:22 a firefighter came home in america your 5:25 back here in DC today you could say one thing President Obama 5:29 after going for all this and to our country for that matter what would you 5:32 well it was an honour I I'm grateful to the president for providing me the 5:37 opportunity to serve as the United States Fire Administration 5:41 I I was supported in that capacity while I was here 5:45 I 5:46 and I was blessed to be able to do some incredible things even though I was here 5:51 just for a short period of time and I would just encourage 5:54 I him to stand by the Constitution 5:57 that establishes us as the greatest nation ever 6:01 and to support the fact that no American 6:04 should have to live in fear been terminated 6:08 by the free expression their beliefs and their parts 6:11 you know governments do not have the right to impose 6:15 government endorse belief systems on their employees 6:18 you shouldn't have to decide happen 6:21 choose between should I keep my job a live out my faith because people 6:26 up any faith when they're strong in their face they would choose to live out 6:31 their faith over keeping their jobs 6:33 but that should not be even at the limit by any american 6:36 I today in our country well thank you very much 6:40 really appreciate it going thank you my place 6:44 of 6:46 the No