San Francisco Chronicle (SF) - MONDAY, July 17, 1995 Edition: FINAL Section: Editorial Page: A19 Word Count: 617
Debra J. Saunders, Chronicle Staff Writer

So where is the city Human Rights Commission? Where are those county supervisors who usually are the first to cry foul at the hint of oppression? Gone fishin' on this one, friends, because the small political organization is the San Francisco Republican Party.

And the oppressors are the radical AIDS group, ACT UP San Francisco, who claimed to be protesting the possible loss of funding for the Ryan White Care Act.

Let us walk through recent history.

Last year, when a city disc jockey was ignorant enough to call gays "sad" and "pathetic," Supervisor Susan Leal urged the Human Rights Commission to investigate and "resolve complaints" because those remarks could "lead to further discrimination and possibly acts of violence." There actually was violence against the GOP, but no Supe has called publicly for the commission to intervene.

Last year, the HRC went after Catholic Charities and forced it to stipulate that it has homosexuals on the board of a facility that serves AIDS patients. The idea was to enforce a city ordinance that requires that charities that receive city funds be representative of the population they serve. (I guess that means there must be junkies on the board too.) If the HRC truly believed in diversity, surely it would stand up for this minority political group.

There's been no peep from the HRC.

This year, Supervisor Angela (heart) Alioto asked the HRC to intervene when a radio talk-show host called for the quarantining of people with HIV. The (heart) said she acted because the talker was spreading "misinformation." Believe me, calling the San Francisco GOP "bigots," as ACT UP did, is about as misinformed as you can get. When the 15 trespassers entered 540 Van Ness Avenue, they encountered Chris Bowman, a gay Republican leader and a founder of the Life AIDS Lobby.

Has Alioto called in the Human Rights Commission? No word yet, but at least she showed some concern.

"On the night of the attack, we called each supervisor and the mayoral candidates," S.F. GOP Chairman Arthur Bruzzone said Friday. "Only Frank Jordan and Angela Alioto responded. No other supervisors, especially the gay and lesbian supervisors, have repudiated this attack."

"It (must be) really clear to the country that these are acts of political violence," Bruzzone added. "We are going to use all the legal means possible." Those means include pushing District Attorney Arlo Smith to press felony -- not misdemeanor -- malicious mischief, burglary and conspiracy charges against the four thugs who were arrested. Bruzzone wants full restitution and no plea bargain. Also, the party is preparing to sue ACT UP civilly for damages. You might say Bruzzone wants the authorities to take this vandalism as seriously as pro-life vandalism of abortion clinics.

Watch ACT UP types try to dismiss my opinion as homophobic. Sorry. San Francisco's thriving gay community boosts the city's charm, political repression doesn't.

And it's not as if these vandals really care about AIDS funding. If they did, they would not have engaged in a demonstration which -- according to their press release -- was supposed to feature the burning of the American flag. You pull a nasty stunt like that only if you want to hand ammo to the Jesse Helms camp.

You know it and I know it. If a gay-rights group, clinic or liberal organization had been attacked, the HRC would be on the case and the Supes would be asking for federal protection. When Republicans are the victims of violence, the silence is deafening.

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