Mitt Romney Says He Has Remained Constant On Gay Rights, Scottish Government Consultation On Same Sex Marriage Solicits Over 50,000 Responses, Australia Opposition Leader Abbot Demands Coalition Members Vote Against Same Sex Marriage, Conservative Rabbi Quits Synagogue Over Exclusion Of Gays, Nate Berkus Show Cancelled, Orlando Bloom DILF, Justin Bieber Dons Black Boxerbriefs To Beach Wedding

In an interview Friday with The Des Moines Register editorial board, ahead of Saturday’s GOP debate, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney was about allowing gays to serve openly in the military, Romney answered “That’s already occurred. I’m not planning on reversing that at this stage. I was not comfortable making the change during a period of conflict, due to the complicating features of a new program in the middle of two wars going on, but those wars are winding down, and moving in that direction at this stage no longer presents that problem.” When asked about gay rights, Romney replied “I continuously have people say, ‘Oh, you changed your position on gay rights.’ No, I didn’t. I had the same position on gay rights since the beginning of my political career. I said I’m in favour of providing for gay people, I’m opposed to discrimination based on sexual orientation. At the same time, from the very beginning, I’ve said I oppose same-sex marriage and civil union if it’s virtually identical to same-sex marriage.”

The Scottish government's consultation on bringing in same sex marriage has had about 50,000 responses. SNP ministers favour the move but it is opposed by big religious organisations such as the Church of Scotland and the Roman Catholic Church. Submissions to the 14-week consultation close at midnight on Friday. According to the BBC, the government is now considering whether to change the law after getting one of the biggest reactions to a consultation it has ever had. Same sex couples in Scotland currently have the option to enter into civil partnerships, but the SNP promised in its manifesto to consult on new legislation allowing same sex marriages in churches. The government, which is today closing its consultation to submissions, has insisted no part of the religious community would be forced to hold gay weddings, but the move has still prompted controversy. The issue has also split the SNP. A parliamentary motion tabled by party MSP John Mason, stating no person or organisation should be forced to be involved in or to approve of same sex marriage, sparked a row, with some of his colleagues saying his action encouraged discrimination. At the same time, a "rainbow coalition" of organisations, including The Equality Network, Amnesty International, Unison and the Humanist Society of Scotland are among those campaigning for change. Scotland's deputy first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said all views would be listened to, but added that ministers "tended towards the initial view" that same sex marriage should be introduced.

Australian Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has toughened his position against a conscience vote on same sex marriage, declaring that every member of the Coalition was elected on a platform that marriage was only between a man and a woman. The Australian reports that while the Opposition Leader says the party's position on a conscience vote still has to be discussed at a shadow cabinet meeting this week and in the party room next year, he thinks it is important politicians keep the promises they make to the electorate. There has been no fundamental change in Australian society since the last election that would justify changing the Coalition's position, he told Sky's Australian Agenda program this morning. "The very important consideration here is the fact that every single one of us went to the last election saying marriage is between a man and a woman," Abbott said. "In the end the fundamental duty of every politician is to keep his or her commitments." Abbott has been under pressure to declare whether he will allow Coalition MPs a conscience vote on gay marriage after the Labor Party changed its platform last week to allow same sex marriage. Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who opposes same sex marriage, is allowing her MPs a conscience vote in a move that is expected to see any bill to allow gay marriage defeated. Abbott who also opposes gay marriage has not yet settled on his position on a conscience vote even though supporters of gay marriage like former leader Malcolm Turnbull are pushing for a conscience vote. Unlike the Labor Party the Liberal Party does not bind its members to support caucus decisions in parliamentary votes. The Liberal Party has traditionally respected the right of its MPs to vote according to their conscience even if it means crossing the floor to vote against the party line. Abbott acknowledged this tradition yesterday but reminded his MPs they had all been elected to parliament at the last election on a platform that said marriage was only between a man and a woman. If they wanted to change their position they would need to go to the next election arguing a new position and seek a new mandate, he said. While acknowledging there was a liberal stream in the Coalition Mr Abbott said his side of politics was "the custodian of the conservative political tradition in this country.” He said his instinct was that "the vast majority" of his party room was still of the view that marriage was between a man and a woman.

A Masorti (Conservative) rabbi has quit The Schechter Rabbinical Seminary in Jerusalem in acrimony allegedly over the exclusion of openly gay students from its rabbinical studies program, The Jerusalem Post learned on Thursday Rabbi Tamar Elad-Appelbaum, former associate dean at the seminary, serving the Masorti/Conservative movement in Israel and abroad, resigned this week because, according to a source, it allegedly reneged on a promise to ordain homosexual students. “She was promised two years ago when she entered the position that they will ordain LGBT students,” the source said. “She learned this was not going to be the case two weeks ago and quit.” Elad-Appelbaum did not answer her phone on Thursday but several sources verified the story. The Schechter Rabbinical Seminary denied that Elad-Apelbaum had ever been made such a promise and issued a response expressing regret over the rabbi’s decision to leave. “The Schechter Rabbinical Seminary received Rabbi Tamar Elad-Appelbaum¹s resignation with great regret,” said Rabbi Prof. Hanan Alexander, chairman of seminary’s board of trustees. “Rabbi Elad-Appelbaum contributed enormously to the seminary during her tenure and we wish her every success in her future endeavours.” The row between the seminary and the rabbi is part of a larger debate taking place within the Conservative Movement over its policy toward homosexuality. During the 1990s some of its rabbis embraced the gay community and welcomed its members into its ranks while others adhered to the traditional halachic ban against same-sex relations. In recent years two of its most important religious schools, the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies in Los Angeles and the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City, have opened their doors to LGBT students. But the Schechter Institute in Jerusalem under the presidency of Rabbi Prof. David Golinkin has refused to ordain openly gay students. Amichai Lau-Lavie, an openly gay student at JTS and the scion of a renowned rabbinical family, sent an e-mail calling Elad-Appelbaum a “courageous and inspiring leader whose commitment to human dignity, tikkun olam and halachic progress is of international renown.” Lau-Lavie said her departure presents a “painful reality check” but that he was optimistic it would eventually bring change to the Conservative Movement’s policy toward gays in Israel and in general. The rabbinical student said he considered applying for admission to Schechter in 1997 but was advised against it “because of my sexual orientation.” Golinkin on Thursday chose not to comment on Elad-Appelbaum’s departure, saying “I have no response.”

Sony Pictures Television and Harpo Studios are officially ending The Nate Berkus Show after this season, the show's second. Broadcasting and Cable reports that the show will remain in production and will deliver all scheduled original episodes. "After careful consideration, we have decided that The Nate Berkus Show will not return for a third season in the fall," said Sony and Harpo in a joint statement. "We are grateful for the hard work and heart that Nate, [executive producer] Corin Nelson and their entire team have poured into the show, and we're very proud of what they've delivered." In a statement, Berkus said, “I’m incredibly proud of my hard working and talented staff, and proud of the show we were able to produce every day." Oprah spin-off Nate Berkus premiered in 2010, one year before his mentor, Oprah Winfrey, was scheduled to end her iconic talk show. Berkus' show never got off the ground, ratings-wise, leading to constant speculation about its future.

A shirtless, board short-wearing Orlando Bloom and son Flynn spotted in Mapua, New Zealand Saturday, Bloom in the country working on The Hobbit.

There are likely any number of reasons not to invite Justin Bieber to your wedding. His wardrobe choices, on display at a friend’s nuptials in Mexico, would be but one.