Thursday, October 18, 2018

'Judicial loophole gives anti-LGBTQ activist $1.2 million payday' & other Thur midday news briefs

Kelvin Cochran will receive a huge settlement from the city of Atlanta even though he lost his case.

He was fired for spreading antigay hate. His former boss just gave him a $1.2 million payday. - One of the religious right's "religious liberty martyr,"  former Atlanta fire chief Kelvin Cochran, just got a fat settlement, but not because he won a court case. He didn't.
(Cochran) sued the city and lost his case last year, when the judge found that the city had not discriminated against him because he’s a Christian and had ample reason to fire him. But the judge’s ruling left open the possibility for further litigation when it comes to the city’s pre-clearance policy, which was mentioned in Cochran’s termination letter. The policy requires that city employees get clearance for outside-of-work speech like publishing books, which the judge said may be unconstitutional. It was this possible litigation that the Atlanta City Council decided to avoid with the settlement. 

In other words, because Cochran had the backing of a religious right legal group (the Alliance Defending Freedom) which could constantly keep the case in the courts and not cost him a penny, the city thought it was best to settle. It's not a loss for Atlanta, but simply a way to spray down a bug. 

Six ways to avoid being a 'slacktivist' on Spirit Day - It's Spirit Day! Stand up for our kids!  

Laverne Cox Describes Survivor’s Guilt She Experiences As A Black Trans Woman - A wonderful interview with a wonderful, trendsetting woman. 

 GOP lawmakers’ scores plummet on LGBTQ congressional scorecard - I haven't been THIS surprised since Leslie Jordan's character came out to Karen on 'Will and Grace.'

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