Greg in the Afternoon: Barney Frank says fire AIG execs; gay bowling club says OC cops unfair!

What a gorgeous day in LA. I took a walk in Pan Pacific Park after lunch and just took it all in. Then came back to the computer to catch up on the news and all my bliss faded away real quick! But that’s cool, I’m hitting happy hour in West Hollywood tonight.

*** Since I grew up in The OC (yes, that’s what I call Orange County and I don’t care what anybody thinks!), I was interested in  this story covered today by the Orange County Register – the paper I dreamed of writing for as a kid but never did – and the Los Angeles Times - the paper I did write for from 1989 – 2000.

So here’s the story: a gay bowling night at Lucky Strike Lanes at The Block in Orange was shut down a few weeks ago. The cops say the event – which attracted an estimated 500 people – had grown too loud and violated a conditional-use permit. Organizers are claining they were given the boot because it was a gay event and that a straight bowling night would not have been shut down. ‘Everyone’s feeling like the gay community is not welcome here,’  said Zach Moos, 34, one of the event’s promoters and DJs. Gay night at the bowling alley. “I’m the last person to cry discrimination, but there’s definitely some bias here.’”

Stay tuned.

*** Rep. Barney Frank makes a fair amount of headlines because he’s not afraid to speak his mind. He did so again this morning on NBC’s Today Show in reaction to news reports that American International Group, which has received $170 billion in bailout funds, plans on paying out $165 million in bonuses to employees. The openly gay Frank, who chairs the House Financial Services Committee, has threatened to fire those receiving bonuses. “These people may have a right to their bonuses, but they don’t have a right to their jobs forever,” he said.  More at Advocate.com

*** Hooray for The Washington Post!  The influential paper ran an editorial today in support of The Uniting American Families Act which would allow gay and lesbian Americans and permanent residents to sponsor their foreign-born partners for legal residency in the United States. The bill was  introduced last month in the Senate by Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and in the House by Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), and would add “permanent partner” and “permanent partnership” after the words “spouse” and “marriage” in relevant sections of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The Post writes: “If passed, it would right a gross unfairness.”

“Under current law, committed same-sex foreign partners of American citizens are unable to use the family immigration system, which accounts for a majority of the green cards and immigrant visas granted annually by the United States,” Leahy said upon introducing the bill. “The promotion of family unity has long been part of federal immigration policy, and we should honor that principle by providing all Americans the opportunity to be with their loved ones.”