During the course of my activism as an ardent and passionate believer in the promotion of social and legal acceptance of gay Americans, I have frequently been confronted with religious objections to homosexuality.  The most frequently cited passage of the Bible with which I have been confronted by those who believe that homosexuality is immoral is undoubtably Leviticus Chapter 18 Verse 22 (Leviticus 18:22).  Several versions of this passage are cited below:

"Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination."  (King James Version)

"'Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable."  (New International Version)

"You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination."  (New American Standard Version)

"And with a male thou dost not lie as one lieth with a woman; abomination it [is]."  (Young's Literal Translation)

"Do not practice homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman. It is a detestable sin."  (New Living Translation)


These are just five translations of Leviticus 18:22.  By accessing the Web site at http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus%2018:22;&version=15;, it is possible to derive a total of 21 different translations in English alone (and this list is by no means exhaustive).

The problem I have encountered over and over again when dealing with religious objections premised on interpretations of Leviticus 18:22 is the manner in which the people who invoke Leviticus 18:22 do so with total disregard for other prohibitions enunciated with equal force by Leviticus.  This is best illustrated by a fictional letter written to Laura Schlessinger (widely known as Dr. Laura).

Prior to 1997, Schlessinger was outspoken in her sympathy for gay and lesbian Americans, and was also a vocal proponent of gay relationships, opining that it was cruel to deny love and happiness to gay couples.  Schlessinger took issue with fundamentalist Christians and cultural conservatives, berating them for their anti-gay hostility and for their strident condemnation of homosexuality.

Something happened to change Schlessinger's mind in 1997.  She switched from this gay-supportive and humanitarian perspective to a harsh, insulting perspective, claiming that she had been misinformed.  The "new" Dr. Laura condemned gay relationships, and advocated the work of so-called "reparative therapists" (men and women who claim to be able to change the sexual orientation of gay men and lesbians).  The American Psychological Association spoke out against the dangers of such misguided attempts to "correct" homosexual sexual orientation (several inductees into the ranks of the "ex-gay" movement have committed suicide); Schlessinger, in turn, spoke out against the American Psychological Association, asserting that it had signed on to the "gay agenda." and had been co-opted by gay activists.  Soon, a nationwide movement emerged, dedicated to debunking Schlessinger's views and assertions.  What follows is a letter that was supposedly written to Schlessinger -- this (somewhat irreverent) letter illustrates the hypocrisy of the Leviticus crowd, members of which pick and choose which portions of Leviticus are relevant to our lives today, treating Leviticus specifically (and biblical teachings more generally) as a cafeteria, from which they select only those prescriptions and proscriptions that suit their tastes:

"Dear Dr. Laura:

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your radio show, and I try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate.

I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other specific Bible laws and how to follow them.

a) When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord (Lev. 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

b) I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her? She's 18 and starting University. Must the slave buyer continue to pay for her education by law ?

c) I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev. 15:19-24). The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

d) Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify?  Why can't I own Canadians?

e) I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should this be a neighborhood improvement project ?

f) A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination (Lev. 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this?

g) Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here? Would contact lenses help ?

h) Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?

i) I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

j) My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? (Lev. 24:10-16).  Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)

I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.

Your devoted disciple and adoring fan."

This tonge-in-cheek letter shows just how absurd it is to wrench one specific verse of Leviticus from its temporal, social, and cultural context.  If a person of good faith is going to rely on Leviticus to buttress his or her anti-gay perspectives, turnabout is fair play.



PHILIP CHANDLER