AUGUST 5, 1994 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE 5
Gifts of Athena to close if debt can't be paid
by Doreen Cudnik
For over four years, Cleveland has been fortunate enough to have a feminist bookstore right in its own backyard. Located at 2199 Lee Rd. in Cleveland Heights, Gifts of Athena has been a center of lesbian-feminist life and activity on Cleveland's East Side.
Many have come out there, or met their first girlfriend at a book reading in Gifts' back room, or bought tickets to the latest concert or women's event. Whatever the reason for dropping in,
in order to take some of the stress off of us as owners, but we don't have that luxury right now."
Gifts of Athena has pro'We want to remind people
vided many important
(but non-revenue-producing) services for
Cleveland area women.
Heather Thorp, owners of the bookstore, re-
On a positive note, Thorp commented, "As our community changes, I think it will be nice to open it up to new energy and input so that it's not just reflective of two white lesbians. I don't think we know what it's going to become yet, but how can we until we hit that $30,000 figure and can continue to operate?" The bookstore has never been self-supporting, and it has not providing a living income to its owners. "We've both been working here 30 to 40 hours a week in addition to working other jobs to pay our personal bills," Bennett commented. "It's never come close to supporting either one of us." Since the letter went out, help has
that when you make a
decision to spend your
Sue Bennett and money elsewhere, you're making a decision not to support all the other good, community-building things that happen here'
cently sent out a letter to members of the commu-
nity discussing the seri-
ous financial trouble
that the bookstore is in. Right now, Gifts of
Athena needs to raise $30,000 by August 31 to pay a backlog of bills and taxes, and keep the doors open. Thorp said, "If we don't get help, we'll be forced to close. Things are at an emergency state at this point."
A combination of things were cited as reasons for the financial crisis. Competition from the larger chain stores, being a small business, the need for skilled and unskilled help were all offered as explanations. "I don't think there is any one thing we can point to as the sole reason," Thorp commented." Also, so many of the things that happen here on a regular basis are not revenue-producing."
Both owners agree that they are ready for a restructuring of the bookstore. Multiple ownership of the store, turning it into a collective, and the possibility of applying for non-profit status are all ideas that are being considered.
"To sustain this, we have to think of not only our ownership of the store, but in terms of community ownership of this space.” Thorp said. "Even if the store was completely financially sound right now, we are reevaluating our involvement in it, and hope to open it up to more community responsibility.'
Bennett added that she wants to continue to be involved in the store in a "major way," and said, "If we were a real, money-making business, we would hire a full-time manager
been slowly trickling in. "Some people have been coming in and spending money when they haven't been in the store for over a year," Bennett related, "and every bit helps." Ideas have been presented about how to clear this hurdle through fundraisers, concerts and the like, but, as Thorp put it, "the fear is that those ideas will take so long to come together that the store will be closed by then."
What is happening to Gifts of Athena is happening all over the country to small businesses, especially independent bookstores. Many small businesses are experiencing the same kind of financial hardships as the larger corporate-owned chains expand.
"To Barnes & Noble, for example, the two to five books that you purchase per year is not a big deal, but to Gifts of Athena, it's a very big deal," Bennett said. "It does matter. When you're shopping at Barnes & Noble, you're supporting K-Mart-you're supporting corporate America, who does not support our issues."
Although their focus has been definitely feminist, and after that lesbian, they both maintained that there is a desire to stock men's books "It's never been a profitable department for us," Bennett says, "but we want to continue to stock books by and for men. We think there's a place here for gay male literature, and we want to be supportive of that, but we need to see the support from the men's community."
White appoints AIDS 'czar'
Continued from page 1
sible moral issue involved," said Zimomra. "If it has worked in other cities, he's willing to try it here. At the same time he doesn't want to limit himself to only those programs that have been tried elsewhere. He's encouraging us to be innovative."
Zimomra acknowledges that some of these potential ideas may ignite public debate. Needle exchange programs and wider availability of condoms to teens are sure to be further discussed. Area bathhouses may also come under closer scrutiny in the future, though Zimomra says there are no immediate plans of shutting them down.
"There have been complaints about specific facilities, yes," she said. "But are we looking at closing them? We would first have to determine if there is a health risk, and that would have to cover a variety of health areas. I can only say that we are open to looking at any idea that can prevent AIDS."
Cleveland's new HIV/AIDS policy follows general federal guidelines for protecting workers' rights. The policy, which went into effect July 27, stipulates that HIV testing will not be used as a condition for city employment, and that employes with AIDS are entitled to remain in the same job classification, health permitting.
Zimomra points to an additional inclusive
statement with pride. "The one element we've added that's not in the federal policy is a statement that Cleveland is committed to providing services equally, regardless of HIV status. It's an equality issue. The federal policy doesn't say that."
Chrisse France, executive director of the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland, welcomes the city's activity in light of the recent recommendations made by the Citizen's Committee on AIDS.
"I think it's a positive step," she says with caution. "Judith Zimomra can't do it all. She has to be facing so many other issues as health director. Now they'll be able to provide some coordination of resources. But we're not sure how that's going to happen. But we really need a Betty Chao. I'm anxious for her to get started."
For a city that has come under attack for lack of response to AIDS, these efforts may seem surprising. France attributes some of the responsibility for the city's recently awakened awareness to the work of ACT UP Cleveland.
"Do I think ACT UP has helped? Oh my God, yes," she said. “ACT UP has played an important role in making people sit up and listen. They can say and do things that the rest of us can't or won't. They definitely deserve some thanks."
An open house was held at the bookstore the evening of Tuesday, August 2. This was an opportunity for the community to brainstorm and ask questions of the owners. Thorpe and Bennett acknowledged that the state of Ohio was their biggest creditor at this time, and that the state will shut them down if back taxes are not paid by the end of the month. This amount was said to be about $10,000 of the $30,000 debt, and the most immediate concern.
The meeting was well attended, and a myriad of ideas were presented. Ways to access money currently "warehoused" in various community organizations, such as the Women's Building Foundation, were discussed and debated. Some women expressed a willingness to guarantee these funds, if that were to happen. Small groups were formed to create a budget, coordinate fundraisers, and
assign specific tasks.
Anyone that could not attend the Tuesday meeting, but would like to help, can call the bookstore at 371-1937.
Even though a book may be available elsewhere, possibly a few dollars cheaper, and maybe at a more convenient location, the kind of exchange and information that Gifts of Athena provides is not. "We want to remind people that when you make a decision to spend your money elsewhere, you're making a decision not to support all the other good, community-building things that happen here," said Bennett.
"It's not that we just want everyone to spend their money here," they both agreed, "but we want people to support community, and this is a place where community is happening."
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