Former Atlanta Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran

By Tom Blumer, Jan. 30, 2015, Newsbusters.com

Former Atlanta Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran, who alleges he was fired from his position solely because of his Christian beliefs, has filed a religious discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

That's not news at the Associated Press's national site, and it appears that the AP has not even carried a local story about Cochran's EEOC complaint — omissions that reek of a double standard.

The wire service carried a national "Big Story" item in November about how Cochran was "in trouble" over a "homosexuality book" (AP's term). Actually, instead of being entirely about homosexuality, as anyone reading the AP headline would think is the case, Cochran's book merely has "a chapter on human sexuality that’s consistent with the Bible’s teaching on the subject."

AP also carried a January 13 "Big Story" about Cochran's firing dominated by the city's side of the story with yet another deceptive headline: "Mayor: Fire chief not axed for writing anti-gay book."

But all forms of pushback from Cochran, including dramatic stories of support from fellow Christians, and now the former fire chief's EEOC action? Crickets.

Tony Perkins at the Family Research Council wrote about Cochran's situation on January 14 (italics and links are in original; bolds are mine throughout this post):

Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran spent his life answering the call, and yesterday, hundreds of Georgians returned the favor. The city’s 34-year squad veteran was inspired by the show of support at the Atlanta Capitol yesterday, where people from all backgrounds, ethnicities, and political parties stood alongside Cochran in protest of his outrageous firing. Like the sportscasters, educators, athletes, small businesses, wedding vendors, firefighters, and others who dare to think outside the far-Left box, Cochran was a victim of the same intolerance his Mayor claims to oppose.

The former Obama appointee, who had a long and distinguished record, finally had the opportunity to tell his side of the story at Tuesday’s rally. And, like so many before him, nothing but fierce hostility toward Christianity was at its heart. To a room full of reporters, Cochran made it clear: “I was fired for having the audacity to believe that sex was created for procreation and should be in the bonds of holy matrimony between and a man and woman.”