Charlene Cothran...
Charlene Cothran is the founder of Cothran
Publications, Inc., which publishes Venus: a lifestyles magazine
for people of African descent in the life, which is now
available in Canada, Amsterdam, London and Paris. The company's
second title, The Healthy Living Pocket Guide, targets African
Americans with prevention & treatment information. Cothran's
third title will be The Black Traveler's Pocket Guide (April
2002).
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Venus Staffers at the NY Gay
& Lesbian Expo
Damion Mannings-Editor-at-Large, Charlene
Cothran-Publisher, Marian Farrah-Accountant, and Toni Caffey-Client/Volunteer
of BigPotLotto.com. |
Venus is a magazine for people of African descent in the
´life.´ Charlene is this determined sister, warm, all about the
business when it comes to the magazine. She also has quite a
sense of humor. She had me in stitches.
I asked her what she liked about Venus Magazine. She said,
'What's
exciting and interesting is when a Black straight person gives
me feedback on the fact that they picked up the magazine for a
gay friend or coworker.´ The friend or coworker had no clue
about the magazine. She states, 'For me this is very far
reaching, it's broader than what we possibly had envisioned for
the magazine. It's nice to hear someone's momma picks up the
magazine for their gay child, or gay nephew or niece. It lets me
know the magazine is respectable and not about T and A's.'
I asked her what she liked most about BLACKlines, Charlene
said, ´I like the way BLACKlines makes ties with the
AfricanAmerican community at large. It's not just about the
Black gay community, but the magazine makes ties with the
straight community. The magazine isn't all about who's coming to
town, it is about building bridges.´
She sees Cothran Publications unfolding on an international
level. A magazine coming out of South Africa and other
countries. She sees gays outside the U.S. as so progressive. ´I
would really like to see the magazine distributed more on an
international level one day.´ (From Blacklines Aug. 1999
-- Strutting With Pride in Gay New York by Sherri Jackson)
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