God hates shrimp?

Last year the Westboro Baptist Church came to Spokane to protest Gonzaga University for being "gay enablers." This group is famous for their protests in which they hold up signs that say things such as "God Hates Fags," "Fags Are Beasts," "God Hates America," and so on. Now obviously, this is a Christian church with extreme views, but it does bring up the question as to where these anti-homosexual beliefs come from in the Bible, or if they even exist.

Not all Christians believe homosexuality is a sin, and most agree that what the Westboro Baptist Church is doing is wrong. But I would argue that most Christians do see homosexuality as wrong, and they use the Bible to justify this. When using the Bible to explain why homosexuality is a sin, Christians most commonly point to two verses in Leviticus; the first being Leviticus 18:22 which makes the claim, "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination."

The second is Leviticus 20:13, which not only says homosexuality is an "abomination" but that those who commit it must be "put to death." But what else does the Bible claim to be an abomination? If you look to Deuteronomy 22:5, the Bible also claims that wearing the clothes of someone from the opposite sex as also an "abomination." And in Leviticus 11:10-12 the Bible claims that "whatever in the water does not have fins or scales — that shall be an abomination to you." Both of these are also described as "abominations" just like homosexuality. So why aren't these taken as seriously? Instead of having signs that say "God Hates Fags," why not signs that read "God Hates Red Lobster" or "God Hates Shrimp Scampi"? Until these other "abominations" are taken as seriously as homosexuality, I cannot see how this is anything more than selective reading used to discriminate against others.

And, what about the commandment that demands we shall not bear false witness (Exodus 20:16)? If being gay is not a choice, then can't discriminating against homosexuals be, in a sense, asking them to bear false witness to whom they are? And therefore, how is this different from discriminating against someone for their skin or hair color? Picking out individual verses like this on topics as crucial to our society as homosexuality is irresponsible and only makes Christianity look intolerant and outdated.