NBJC Congratulates Atlanta Mayor on Termination of Former City Fire Chief
Today, the National Black Justice Coalition’s (NBJC) Executive Director and CEO, Sharon Lettman-Hicks, issued the following statement in support of Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed’s termination of former Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran after he went against city policy by writing a book that included homophobic statements:
“NBJC congratulates Mayor Reed on his bold and decisive action to terminate Mr. Cochran after writing a homophobic book, which violates the city’s nondiscrimination policy. Atlanta is one of our nation’s most diverse cities and is home to one of the largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) populations, including Black LGBT people. According to UCLA’s Williams Institute, Atlanta ranks among the top 10 cities for same-sex couples with African American householders, and Georgia ranks second in the country where the most Black LGBT people live. Mayor Reed’s action is a clear sign that Atlanta is a city where all people are welcomed and will be treated with the utmost respect, no matter their background. As the leader of one of the largest Black cities in our nation, this action by Mayor Reed is welcomed news and affirms to many Black LGBT people that Black leadership is working to enhance and protect their lives too.”
