Book Study Group: A New Chapter in Power Politics?

Look for the emergence of a new political power in L.A. The name--the Book Study Group--certainly doesn’t reflect its purpose, which is to push political candidates to take stronger positions on gay issues, especially testing of AIDS drugs. The deliberately misleading title was chosen to allow the group to work on an agenda without interference from other gay activist organizations. With nine members, all major names in the gay community who have been active in politics and especially in political fund raising, the BSG brings to any candidate a convincing reason for becoming more involved in the AIDS effort--and what one member said is the ability to quickly raise “literally hundreds of thousands of dollars.”

Conspicuously missing from the sessions is UC Regent Sheldon Andelson, who because of illness has been absent from the political front for months. The group has already had lengthy meetings with possible presidential candidate Rep. Patricia Schroeder (D-Colo.), California Sen. Alan Cranston, Atty. Gen. John Van de Kamp and Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Tim Wirth (D-Colo.).

LAST BLAST--Here’s the last great round of charity events before the summer doldrums--including Thursday’s Century Plaza dinner for rock promoter Bill Graham. He’ll receive the City of Hope’s Music Industry “Spirit of Life Award,” and Robin Williams emcees. . . . The New Jewish Agenda tonight honors “our unsung heroes and heroines” with a party at the home of Karen Sperling and Mel Silverstein.

WHOOPS--Mayor Bradley aide Donna Bojarsky and attorney Philip Recht (Manatt, Phelps, Rothenberg & Phillips) were at agent Rob Lee’s house in Malibu over the holiday weekend, and Bojarsky, a longtime supporter of Gary Hart, was telling a story about the former presidential candidate. People listening to her began to “start looking at me really funny,” Bojarsky said. And, when she turned around, standing nearby was none other than Donna Rice. The model-actress had just signed that day with Lee’s firm, Triad, which will represent her in selling her personal story.