“One of the more interesting effects of gay rights laws is that while fewer gays may be fired, fewer may be hired in the first place,” argues Paul Varnell in Windy City Times (April 8). “It is much easier for an employee to make out a claim of discrimination after he has been on the job for a while than to prove discrimination in the hiring process. Employers know this. So they may feel concern that if they ever had to dismiss a gay employee, the employee might file a discrimination suit that could result in costly litigation, even if the firing was not motivated by bias. This could make even unprejudiced employers reluctant to take a chance on a good gay job candidate.”
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From Chicago sewer and barge canal to natural treasure in just one century. The Illinois Nature Conservancy is offering a June overnight paddle-wheeler cruise of the Illinois River from Peoria to Starved Rock and back, offering views of the “ancient waterway, with its verdant valley, forested hills, and numerous river-lakes.” Price: $398 (“Prairie Currents,” Spring).
Ultimate rehabilitation. From the Safer Foundation’s newsletter “Catalyst” (Spring): “Miguel Gamino, Oscar Sampson, Melvin Burnette, and Michael Hunter are Montgomery Students at Malcolm X College. Formerly, they were ex-offenders.”
