Charlene Cothran Debuts "Ex-Gay" Ministry, Needs Donations to "Prevent Homosexuality In Youth"

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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Comments

[kevjack]

When the Venus issue came out with this cruel joke I just rolled my eyes. But now she is asking for money to spread her hateful and ignorant message around the nation.

The real problem is that this message will be supported not only by those who hate us, but also by those of us who hate us (NN, Miss Donnie, etc.). The worst queens I know of are those judgemental, closeted church queens-- and they are the first to support this tired, hateful act (lest anyone think they are gay), or they say nothing about it at all. I am sick of it-- sick of the gospel singers and producers who do not come out, sick of the ushers, miniters, deacons, and lay people who refuse to be out, and who give their support to hateful and harmful ministries. I do not care if Karen Clark Sheard is singing there this Sunday-- that church does not like you and you need not give it a dime!! Too many of our brothers and sisters continue to support these churches that leave them spiritually wounded, and for some reason they lack the courage to walk away. When will they wake up, leave their hateful churches behind, and walk into the light of self-acceptance?

The fact that too many of our churches are filled with self-hating black gay people who refuse to stand up and accept themselves is the real shameful story.

[kevjack]

When the Venus issue came out with this cruel joke I just rolled my eyes. But now she is asking for money to spread her hateful and ignorant message around the nation.

The real problem is that this message will be supported not only by those who hate us, but also by those of us who hate us (NN, Miss Donnie, etc.). The worst queens I know of are those judgemental, closeted church queens-- and they are the first to support this tired, hateful act (lest anyone think they are gay), or they say nothing about it at all. I am sick of it-- sick of the gospel singers and producers who do not come out, sick of the ushers, miniters, deacons, and lay people who refuse to be out, and who give their support to hateful and harmful ministries. I do not care if Karen Clark Sheard is singing there this Sunday-- that church does not like you and you need not give it a dime!! Too many of our brothers and sisters continue to support these churches that leave them spiritually wounded, and for some reason they lack the courage to walk away. When will they wake up, leave their hateful churches behind, and walk into the light of self-acceptance?

The fact that too many of our churches are filled with self-hating black gay people who refuse to stand up and accept themselves is the real shameful story.

[Mr. Gay Seattle XXXIII]

This is sad... I bet some woman broke her heart.

[CAJIVA]

Maybe I'm the only one but I have like a hidden fetish for "ex-gays" and closet cases. So repressed and lonely I bet they would just beat it, rip it and tear it up if you caught them at the right time.

[Derrick from Philly]

"It's just the kind of internal household division that allows these kinds of ministries to flourish. They play from the INTERNAL information that many of us are still not out, still hiding partners and entire lives from our families, still attending churches that spew vile sermons against homosexuality, while we serve and sing, cry and worship. We are set-up to be invaded because there is so much conflict and division within."

Amen.

Brilliantly articulated truth, Rev!

[mike_in_madrid]

Girl is crazy. And capitalizing on the recent Prop 8 vote. And a little bitter about her bad relationships. And having her featured on 700 Club is just preaching to the choir, and feeding their narrow convictions.

[saywhat?]

*is ded now*

Thanks Cajiva.

[Anderson]

CAJIVA, girl, it's just you.

These are always the people who want to be freaky on the low and take our rights and lives away. No ma'am, not attraction to self hating homos here.

[C. Baptiste-Williams]

gotta love that freedom of speech

[TheRevKev]

KEVJACK!

WE JUST MIGHT BE THE SAME PERSON!

AMEN!!!!!!