Venus Magazine publisher Charlene Cothran may have incensed her readers when she denounced her lesbianism, but she's earned some friends in homo-hater Peter LaBarbera and his brethren. The Americans For "Truth" leader recently posted Cothran's renunciation and asked his readers to support her unholy cause by subscribing to the former fag rag.

Meanwhile, as Ex-Gay Watch reports, ex-gayer Amy Tracy recently sat down with Cothran for a little heart-to-heart. Not only does Cothran eschew questions about her sexuality by claiming to be celibate, she gives us a little insight into her own conversion:

I always knew that homosexuality was wrong. The seed of truth was planted long ago. But the sin in my life squashed it. I'd go to church if it was Christmas, but I never allowed myself to get to the point where I felt conviction. I hardened my heart over and over against the Word.

So she always considered herself a sinner, yet spent years and thousands of dollars publishing a magazine for black lesbians? Curious.

The tipping point apparently came when another one of Cothran's magazines - Kitchen Table News - prepped an article on a gospel group. The group's pastor phoned Cothran and, apparently, could tell that Cothran needed some defagification. She explains:

I told her I was a proud, card-carrying lesbian. She let me go on and on. Then she said, "I can tell that you want to come back to God, but you feel unworthy. That is a lie. Many souls will be saved by your saying yes to Jesus." I could not speak for several moments. She continued to minister to me. She didn't back down. I lived in silence for 48 hours. The Lord was dealing with me in my soul. I told him that I'd give back everything He gave me.

Now Cothran's a proud ex-gayer, intent on using her magazine to spread God's so-called word. Employing the reborn group's cultish language, she insists, "We're playing a small part in someone's salvation". And, by the grace of God, it will remain small. Unless, of course, LaBarbera's readers heed his call, which we pray they won't...