10
Tuesday, January 11, 1994
NATION/WORLD UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Women say job loss due to being straight
The Associated Press
NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. — When the Late Show Night Club went gay, out went four female employees who were not.
"It's the twist of all twists, a gay bar fireing straight women," said Todd Simmons, representative for a statewide gay rights group that has taken up their cause.
"Sexual orientation has no bearing on your capacity to mix drinks or serve them," said Simmons, a leader of the Tampa-based Human Rights Task Force of Florida. "Discrimination is wrong whether it's directed against gays and lesbians or straights."
Bar manager Lenny Credico said the crowd would be mostly gay men who would prefer having gay men serve them.
The women said the lounge switched to a gay club two weeks before Christmas, and owner Audrey McGillivray told them they fired because they were not gay and would not fit in.
Simmons helped steer the women to lawwer Kav Morgan.
Morgan plans to file a complaint with the Florida Human Rights Commission and eventually take the case to court claiming sex discrimination on the behalf of Carolyn O'Neill, Kathy Shappell, Judy Whyte and Julie Meindersma.
Such a case would be reminiscent of the strategy used by Ruth
Bader Ginsburg, now a U.S. Supreme Court justice. In the 1970s, Ginsburg won many of her women's rights victories before the high court using male plaintiffs to attack gender-based stereotypes.
Florida has no state law banning discrimination based on sexual orientation. Nor is there any prohibition in this city near the Gulf Coast, north of St. Petersburg.
Two men employed at the classy downtown lounge were not let go.
"It's a gender issue — we cannot have straight women working in this bar, but we can have straight men," Morgan said. "It shows a real lack of understanding to think the gay community would think this is OK. You're against discrimination on one side, you're against discrimination on the other side."
Lounge owner McGillivray said the Late Show operated at a loss during the seven months she owned it, and it came down to a choice: close it or go gay and hope business picks up.
She said she has nothing against the women personally and even gave their names to other proprietors looking for help.
The fate of the club still is uncertain. McGillivray hired two gay bartenders, but business was slow over the holidays.
"I might yet have to close," she said.
Join in politics through TV
Parties in search of new members
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Coming soon to a cable channel near you: a Christian Coalition telethon.
Such a program is part of an ambitious membership drive planned this year by the coalition. The conservative grassroots organization was founded by religious broadcaster Pat Robertson after his unsuccessful 1988 presidential campaign.
Ralph Reed, the group's executive director, says the Christian Coalition's membership and fund-raising
His 1994 goal: add 500,000 more people to the organization's rolls before this November's elections.
list has surpassed 950,000 and should reach 1 million by February.
To that end, he said the coalition is putting aside $1 million for television time this year. Some of it will be spent on 60-second spots promoting the coalition's conservative agenda and urging viewers to join. Also in the works is a 30-minute program about the organization, to be aired on cable stations and include periodic breaks, similar to teletowns, where viewers will be urged to call and join.
1
The Christian Coalition won't be the o.lly political organization using the airwaves to seek new members this year.
Ross Perot's United We Stand America organization plans a TV membership drive of its own, most likely through a six-week ad campaign to begin in March and run through April 15 — tax day.
The membership effort is on the agenda next month when Perot brings the new state leaders of the organization together for the first time.
Perot has invited the organization's 50 state executive directors — all hired by his organization in Dallas — and the group's 50 elected state chairs to a three-day conference in Dallas the first weekend in February.
The goal is to develop a national election-year agenda for Perot's group while offering the state activists the chance to attend a number of organizing, media and other political workshops.
--ter — now forecast at an annual rate of 4.2 percent
— would carry over into 1994.
"I'm sure we're going to come out of there with pretty clear goals in mind," said Pat Muth, the organization's director in Florida.
The Republican Party again is turning to former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to help it raise money.
Thatcher will be the keynote speaker at the Republican National Committee's annual fund-raising gala, set for Feb. 3 in Washington. The program is designed as a birthday tribute to Ronald Reagan, who turns 84 on Feb. 6.
Reagan also is scheduled to attend and deliver remarks.
Economists: New year brings new growth
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Many of the nation's top economists say the economy in 1994 will post its strongest performance in five years, although it won't be as robust as the final months of 1993.
The consensus of 51 economists polled early this month by Blue Chip Economic Indicators was that the economy would grow by an inflation-adjusted 3 percent this year. The survey results were released yesterday.
If the economists are right, it would be the biggest increase since a 3.9 percent increase in 1988.
Robert J. Eggert, editor of the Sedona, Ariz., newsletter, said many of the survey participants attributed the stronger growth to a belief that the economic momentum evident in 1993's final quarter — now forecast at an annual rate of 4.2 percent
— would carry over into 1994.
The gross domestic product — the total output of goods and services produced in the United States — expanded 2.5 percent in 1989 and 1.2 percent in 1990 before shrinking to 0.7 percent in 1991 as the recession was ending.
The economy then picked up 2.6 percent in 1992 and, according to the Blue Chip consensus, grew 2.8 percent last year. The government will report the 1993 GDP figures Jan. 28.
"However, it is worth noting that the top 10 average of the group sees a 3.3 percent gain, while the bottom 10 foresees economic growth of only 2.1 percent in 1995," Eggert said. "Perhaps the good news is that none of the panel members currently expects 1995 to be a recession year."
The Blue Chip panelists' initial look at 1995 foresees more moderate growth of just 2.7 percent.
"Strength in housing, autos and other consumer durables, as well as business spending for ... equipment, is expected to persist into the new year," Eggert said. "First quarter real GDP is expected to grow at an annual rate of 3 percent."
Eggert said some price pressures are expected to emerge next year as capacity utilization rates rise and the economy moves closer to full employment.
The Blue Chip consensus predicts an unemployment rate of 6.4 percent in 1994, falling to 6.2 percent in 1995. The Labor Department reported Friday that the jobless rate was 6.4 percent in December, the lowest since January 1991.
"Your Book Professionals"
Jayhawk Bookstore
"At the top of Naismith Hill"
Hrs: 8-7 M-Th., 8-5 Fri.
9-5 Sat. 12-4 Sun.
843-3826
All these 1993 "Award Winners"are on Sale Now!
AUDIO/VIDEO "FALL 1993" BEST OF CLASS
ENGINEERING AWARDS
OVER 2000 AUDIO.VIDEO ENGINEERS HAVE SELECTED "THE YEARS MOST SIGNIFICANT VALUES" CHOSEN ON THE BASIS OF:
1. Design & Engineering Excellence.
2. Sonic Integrity & Sound Fidelity.
3. Reliability Record of The Unit.
4. Manufacturer's Ability to Service.
5. "Value" Price Class vs. Performance.
Speakers of the Year
Top 10 Brands
1. BOSTON ACU.
2. B & W
3. SNELL
4. MIRAGE
5. KLIPSCH
6. PARADIGM
7. PSB
8. SIGNET
9. ALON
10. JBL
Winning Models Dollar Value
PSB - (ALPHA) Ea.125
BOSTON - (HD-8) 150
SIGNET - (SL-260) 225
KLIPSCH - (KG-4.2) 375
SNELL - (TYPE-EIII) 525
B & W - (DM-640) 750
KEF - (104.2) 1,225
MIRAGE - (3Si) 1,450
ALON - (IV) 1,695
B & W - (801 SERIES) 2,775
168 Manufacturers Considered
Receivers of the Year
Top 10 Brands Winning Models Dollar Value
1. DENON ONKYO - (TX-910) 250
2. YAMAHA YAMAHA - (RX-360) 275
3. SONYES DENON - (DRA-345R) 325
4. NAKAMICHI NAD - (701) 375
5. ONKYO DENON - (DRA545R) 385
6. NAD NAKAMICHI - (RE-3) 425
7. KENWOOD NAD - (705) 500
8. SONY YAMAHA - (RX-770) 575
9. H.KARDON DENON - (DRA-835R) 800
10. PHILIPS DENON - (DRA-1035R) 1,050
41 Manufacturer Considered
Cass Decks of the Year
Top 10 Brands
1. NAKAMICHI
2. DENON
3. SONY ES
4. YAMAHA
5. ONKYO
6. NAD
7. LUXMAN
8. SONY
9. H.KARDON
10. PHILIPS
ONKYO-(TA-201) 250
NAKAMICHI-(DR03) 425
SONYES-(TC-K707ES) 489
ONKYO-(TA-R301) 300
DENON-(DRR-730) 350
YAMAHA-(KX-R425) 400
ONKYO-(TA-RW313) 275
YAMAHA-(KX-W262) 325
DENON-(DRW-840) 425
SONY-(TC-WR901E5) 650
38 Manufacturers Considered
Winning Models Dollar Value
CD Player of the Year
Top 10 Brands
1. DENON
2. YAMAHA
3. SONY ES
4. CAL. AUDIO
5. ADCOM
6. NAD
7. NAKAMICHI
8. ONKYO
9. LUXMAN
10. SONY
ONKYO- (DX-710) 225
DENON- (DCD-595) 275
NAD- (5000) 525
CAL-AUDIO - (ICON-MKII) 875
YAMAHA- (CDC-735) 325
DENON- (DCM-340) 350
YAMAHA- (CDC-735) 450
SONYES- (CDP-C701ES) 550
ADCOM- (GCD-600) 650
NAKAMICHI- (MB-2) 850
4A Manufacturer Considered
A/V Surround of the Year
Top 10 Brands Winning Models Dollar Value
1. YAMAHA ONKYO-(TX-SV313) 400
2. DENON YAMAHA-(RXV-470) 475
3. ONKYO DENON-(AVR-1000) 600
4. NAKAMICHI SONY ES-(STR-GX69ES) 650
5. SONY ES NAKAMICHI-(AV-2) 800
6. LEXICON DENON-(AVR 2000) 850
7. ADCOM YAMAHA-(RXV-870) 900
8. PIONEER DENON-(AVR-3000) 1,325
9. KENWOOD YAMAHA-(DSPA-2070) 1,850
10. NAD LEXICON-(CP-3) 2,775
Products of Special Merit
Top10 Brands
VELODYNE
MITSUBISHI
SONYXBRII
DENON
YAMAHA
CAL.AUDIO LAB
DENON
TARALABS
AUDIOQUEST
STRAIGHTWIRE
WinningModels DollarValue
SUBWOOFER - (F-1500) 1,500
VIDEOTVMON - (40" ) 4,500
VIDEOTVMON - (32" ) 1,975
COMP.SYS. - (D-80) 1,000
COMP.SYS. - (YST-99CD) 450
CD PLAY. - (TERCET-MKIH) 1,500
SURR.AMP. - (AVC-3030) 1,275
INT.CONN. - (QUANTUM) 65
SP.CABLE. - (CRYSTAL) 6.75/ft
MEGALINK DIGITAL 135
All Manufacturers Considered
24th & Iowa St. P.O.Box 2 Lawrence, Ks. 66044
AUDIO VIDEO ~ CARSTEREQ ~ CDS & TAPES
913*842*1811 913*842*1438 913*842*1544
10
1.