Happy holidays from Charlene Cothran! The "ex-gay" (or is it merely celibate?) and former lesbian publisher of Venus Magazine, once the leading black-oriented lesbian magazine in the nation, now has officially crossed to the dark side by announcing the creation of an ex-gay ministry to "prevent homosexuality in today's youth."
Cotharn details the plans for her ministry at the former virtual home of Venus—now devoted to ex-gay propaganda—and in a holiday-themed fundraising email blast because "preservation of the family is what Thanksgiving celebrates."
I am also thankful to introduce The EVIDENCE Ministry, Inc. God has been gracious, merciful and patient with us all. He has allowed our talented Board of Directors, whom we will introduce soon, to carefully lay the foundation for a loving ministry whose mission is to reach those who want to be free from homosexuality with the gospel of Jesus Christ, to offer tools to prevent homosexuality in today's youth and to offer hope & spiritual healing to parents and family members of gays and lesbians.
The punchline is Cothran's appeal for your dollars. "Our prayer is that God will send 100 people to make a one-time donation of $300 or more or to donate $30 a month for one year."
Cothran wants substantial donations to fund a multi-platform broadcast ministry—with her as the host of course—on radio, DVD and internet. "Charlene Cothran has elevated her rabid capitalist 'ex-gay' charades from a magazine to a 'ministry'," writes Alicia Banks, who forwarded the email to my inbox. "Same twisted joke. New toxic punchline."
Banks is spot-on. The Evidence Ministry Inc is a business. Apparently it is not recognized as a tax deductible church or ministry—at least not yet—and the fundraising appeal and its webpage do not say the ministry is recognized by the IRS as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charity. Cothran claims she "will use 100% of your Year-End donation to achieve our ministry goals." We'll have to take her word for it.
Cothran's reinvention as a broadcast ex-gay "should be a treat," writes Clay Cane, who interviewed Cothran last year when she famously boasted of being "freed from the bondage of lesbianism." Clay compares Cothran's ex-gay-for-pay ministry to "those modeling agencies that are advertised in the back of the Village Voice—if they have to ask you for money, it isn't legit."
Charlene Cothran has quickly become a pawn in the evangelical social conservative scheme to use gays as a wedge issue into the black church. Christian broacdasters, the 700 Club and the powerful anti-gay Family Research Council are publicizing Cothran's story. After the disastrous results of Prop 8 and the escalating tensions between blacks and gays, Cothran's phony "pray away the gay" story might be become welcome currency in many anti-gay black churches. Just ask Donnie McClurkin.
Thanks ALICIA.
Ex-Gay Begging for Money in Name of Jesus [Clay Cane]
Former Lesbian Publisher Charlene Cothran Featured in National TV Show [CNW]
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Blacks and Ex-Gays [R20]
"Ex-Gays" Refuse to Apologize [R20]
Ex Gays: Blacks Better Off Under Slavery [R20]
"Christians" Opposed to Obama [R20]
Gay Man Files $60M Suit Against Bible Publishers [R20]
HORRIBLE. I hate this vile woman and her story.
Posted by: Lee Adleigh | 02 December 2008 at 14:26
This is just really a piece of work and totally expected from the hypocrtical woman. Is it legal to ask for donations if you are not tax exempt?
I am so sure she will be on tour with Miss Donnie McClurkin soon ...
Posted by: torey | 02 December 2008 at 14:28
charlene cothran is a joke. she was the biggest dyke in atlanta, the biggest in chicago and the biggest dyke in new jersey. no she is simply the biggest undercover dyke.
people like charlene and cotharan are poison....
Posted by: RJ | 02 December 2008 at 14:31
You are absolutely right it is very convenient with all this Prop 8 drama Cothran does this. Pitiful.
Rod many thanks for heads up. I discovered this website during Prop 8 and love it. Keep up good work.
Posted by: VC | 02 December 2008 at 14:34
Despicable. Of course she has some white evangelicals helping her. This is how our black churches peddle this poison and damage our LGBTQ youth.
Posted by: Carlin | 02 December 2008 at 14:36
Rod, I have asked you this before. Do you have EVIDENCE that Charlene Cothran has not renounced homosexuality?
Why do you continue to put "quotes" around "exgay"? Cothran and Mcclurkin are no longer gay, this is is theatrical sarcasm on your part and alas very typical ...
You hav e said the same thing about Donnie McClurkin
Posted by: NN | 02 December 2008 at 14:42
NN, surely you are in jest my dear ...
Posted by: A. Martinez | 02 December 2008 at 14:56
"Cothran and Mcclurkin are no longer gay, this is is theatrical sarcasm on your part and alas very typical ..."
You can be homosexual without being gay, NN. These people (Cothran & McClurkin) still have homosexual desires--whether they act on them is another story. The poin is that they f...k up other gay people's emotional well-being by lying about what it means to be gay.
For instance, they'll claim that all gay people are sad and sexually promiscuous. No, their mentally challenged asses were sexually promiscuous, and filled with guilt because of it, and because they coulcn't accept themselves--that made them sad (along with anti-gay hatred in our own communities). Also, homosexuals like McClurkin & Cothran can sometimes be the most cruel and sadistic in the gay world because they're always looking for someone to blame for their unhappiness.
The Lord must find them quite boring and un-interesting.
Homos like McClurkin and Cothran are sad because they couldn't live with being gay.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | 02 December 2008 at 15:07
Well, ex-gay or not, she sure is a "Christian" doing what they do best, beg for money, and, beg they can, while preaching hate. And, then, there is the question about who did not do her makeup for that show.....
Posted by: Luther | 02 December 2008 at 15:39
Pathetic.
Posted by: S. Flemming | 02 December 2008 at 16:00
Derrick that is very insightful ... If you look into Charlene Cotran's history she became 'ex-gay' after a relaionship went sour. She was unhappy and equated her unhappiness with being gay. As you said, she and Donnie were promiscous and unhappy and thought everyone else is.
I am black gay and my family is French West African. The religious prejudice is very strong in my homeland and even among our people here in New York area. you can't just ake up and be ex gay.
Posted by: Jean Georges | 02 December 2008 at 16:06
What a sad, pathetic woman. She ruined her life and hopes to ruin other black gay men and lesbians. If you read her interview, she clearly says she is celibate and does not have sex. I think Miss McClurkin claims the same thing.
Not having sex does not mean you are straight or not gay. If you still think about members of same sex, you are gay!
Posted by: Harry A | 02 December 2008 at 16:09
Amen to that Luther!
Posted by: FQ | 02 December 2008 at 16:10
What a Sad Sad waste...
She represents the true enemy of Gay rights, Hypocritical religious greedy homophobic leeches!
Posted by: nahtans | 02 December 2008 at 16:11
"Homosexuals like McClurkin & Cothran can sometimes be the most cruel and sadistic ..."
More cruel and sadistic to keep calling them gay and homosexual, Derrick.
They say they are not. Who are we to judge??
Thank you Rod for exporting sarcasm to your readers on this serious issue!
Posted by: NN | 02 December 2008 at 16:13
The epitome of butch.
Posted by: CA | 02 December 2008 at 16:18
NN ... I am so glad to see Charlene Cothran has fellow miserable self hating gays around who will defend her.
My aunt and uncle forced their gay son into church and religion about ten years ago. He turned out miserable and closeted and married a church girl and has become a horible husband and father. I pray for these people.
Posted by: TEVIN | 02 December 2008 at 16:28
Still quite dyke-ish by the look on her face and her clothes. I'm just sayin' ....
Posted by: Darren S | 02 December 2008 at 16:34
Thank you rod and thank you derrick,
And NN, I have read your comments before, you definitely have internalized homophobia.
Posted by: Anderson | 02 December 2008 at 16:37
How many young black gay boys will try to committ suicide because of this bullcrap? Cothran is evil!
Posted by: BLACK | 02 December 2008 at 16:41
They say they are not. Who are we to judge??
We can apply the same value added judgment as Cothran and others do. She claims she is NOT gay but does not say she is SEXUALLY ATTRACTED TO MEN. She hints that she still has thoughts of women. Sorry my friend, but THIS is very typical.
Charlene Cothran is a CHARLATAN AND A FRAUD.
Posted by: Farris | 02 December 2008 at 16:44
oh to be on the side with all the money-must be nice for ole girl. she is a disgrace. no more than a puppet for those bastards who claim to follow a man who said to love-while all they seem to do is hate.
Posted by: KB | 02 December 2008 at 16:44
NN:
I can't speak for all readers of this site, but I hardly need Rod or anyone else to point out a sad charlatan like Cothran.
If I believed she really had some religious transformation and actually believed she was doing the right thing, I'd just shake my head. But her obvious greed is showing, so jigs up.
Believe the drivel she and McClurkin spew if it makes you sleep better. But Donnie still LOVES himself some men, and Charlene dreams of puttin' a ring on Beyonce.
Those two, like most ex-gays, haven't changed. They may be celibate -- or even engaged in a passionless relationship doomed to fail miserably in short order, but they've hardly re-wired their brains to desire something new by sheer force of will.
However, if you believe that -- maybe the three of you can do some joint therapy thingie. You'll probably get a discount.
Posted by: Taylor Siluwé | 02 December 2008 at 16:45
NN, i feel very sorry for you, maybe you didn't get some last night.
Posted by: Ralphie | 02 December 2008 at 16:49
These re-born gays are annoying. I got a friend who is gay and celibate. I find the only reason why they turn this way cause they can't find anyone to love and/or have been hurt to the core.
Posted by: Anti-believer | 02 December 2008 at 19:58