Publisher of African American Magazine for Homosexuals Announces Conversion to Christ

The publisher of a magazine targeted toward African American homosexuals announced her conversion to Christianity on the magazine's website. Her conversion was announced on the news website, www.onenews.com yesterday. In her article, the publisher of Venus Magazine rejected the lesbian lifestyle she has lived her adult life.

In the actual article on the website of the magazine, Charlene E. Cothran said that although "over the past 29 years of my life I have been an aggressive, creative, and strategic supporter of gay and lesbian issues" and have "organized in countless marches, and various lobbying efforts in the fight for the equal treatment of gay men and lesbians," she must now come out of the closet herself-as a Christian.

She wrote that as a believer in Jesus Christ she "fully accepts and have always known that same-sex relationships are not what God intended for us. I have recently experienced the change that came over me once I completely surrendered to the teachings of Jesus Christ."

The publisher of the 13-year-old magazine for African American homosexuals recalled that her conversion to Christ started with a talk with the pastor of a local church. She said that meeting highlighted doubts she had about reconciling her homosexual lifestyle with the biblical prohibition on sex outside of a marriage between one man and one woman.

The publisher wrote that she believes God's Spirit spoke to her that she had to choose whom she would serve, and if she made the wrong choice, He would let her drift permanently away from Him. She said she became a follower of Jesus Christ at that time in her car.

"A river of tears flowed as Jesus washed me and forgave me and redeemed me for his work," Cothran wrote.

The publisher wrote that although her work with homosexuals will continue, she will now work toward showing homosexuals how they can leave their lifestyle.

"I don't expect that this message will be widely received, quite the contrary," the publisher of the magazine for African American homosexuals wrote about her conversion to Christ. She also wrote, however, that she knew people reading her story might be in the same lifestyle she was and might be looking for a way out. "I am speaking to my gay and lesbian brothers and sisters who want real peace; the kind you've heard about, sung about, read about. It's simpler than you think to acquire it, and there is no condemnation once you've entered it."

She emphasized that she wanted to share her new message with love.

Cothran wrote that even if our lifestyle and beliefs do not line up with God's Word, if a person is willing to change, He can forgive and make their lives and beliefs change.

The publisher wrote that although some may think she has lost her mind, she has really found a new mind-the mind of Christ-and she gave her old mind away.