"The big deal is that strictures against homosexuality are rooted far more deeply in the Judeo-Christian tradition than racism ever was. Yes, slavery is found throughout the Scriptures and comes in for criticism only, at best, by implication."

This is just completely untrue.

The old testament is riddled with rules for the treatment of slaves. Exodus 21 provides instruction on how to sell your daughter into slavery, tells us when it's okay to split up married slaves, and warns us that if we beat our female slaves to death that we shall be punished (but if she lives for a day or two afterwards and then dies you're in the clear.)

The new testament isn't immune, either. There are a few passages that instruct slaves to be completely obedient to their masters. Most of these are attributed to Christ himself (Ephesians 6:5, 1 Timothy 6:1-2.)

Homosexuality is pretty clearly condemned as well but only the one time (If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them - Leviticus 20:13.) Other references are pretty vague. Still, the bible clearly condemns homosexuality but it also absolutely condones slavery (and with more frequency and vigor.)

The author's other point about slavery, that "race-based slavery — and the racism that made it possible and continues to infect ideas and institutions throughout the West to this day — receives no explicit endorsement from the Bible," is also iffy.

Leviticus 25:44-46 points out that "you may purchase male or female slaves from among the foreigners who live among you. You may also purchase the children of such resident foreigners, including those who have been born in your land. You may treat them as your property, passing them on to your children as a permanent inheritance. You may treat your slaves like this, but the people of Israel, your relatives, must never be treated this way." While it's true that...

"The big deal is that strictures against homosexuality are rooted far more deeply in the Judeo-Christian tradition than racism ever was. Yes, slavery is found throughout the Scriptures and comes in for criticism only, at best, by implication."

This is just completely untrue.

The old testament is riddled with rules for the treatment of slaves. Exodus 21 provides instruction on how to sell your daughter into slavery, tells us when it's okay to split up married slaves, and warns us that if we beat our female slaves to death that we shall be punished (but if she lives for a day or two afterwards and then dies you're in the clear.)

The new testament isn't immune, either. There are a few passages that instruct slaves to be completely obedient to their masters. Most of these are attributed to Christ himself (Ephesians 6:5, 1 Timothy 6:1-2.)

Homosexuality is pretty clearly condemned as well but only the one time (If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them - Leviticus 20:13.) Other references are pretty vague. Still, the bible clearly condemns homosexuality but it also absolutely condones slavery (and with more frequency and vigor.)

The author's other point about slavery, that "race-based slavery — and the racism that made it possible and continues to infect ideas and institutions throughout the West to this day — receives no explicit endorsement from the Bible," is also iffy.

Leviticus 25:44-46 points out that "you may purchase male or female slaves from among the foreigners who live among you. You may also purchase the children of such resident foreigners, including those who have been born in your land. You may treat them as your property, passing them on to your children as a permanent inheritance. You may treat your slaves like this, but the people of Israel, your relatives, must never be treated this way." While it's true that the Bible doesn't explicitly say that African slaves are the way to go, there's clear indication that enslaving the 'other' is considered righteous.

So, the author is way off even if we keep the argument within the bible itself. But more importantly, it shouldn't matter what the Bible says! Yes, it can be used to justify slavery and the marginalization of homosexuals. Why would it matter that "strictures against homosexuality are rooted far more deeply in the Judeo-Christian tradition?"

He goes on to say that treating anti-homosexuality the same as racism "pose[s] a very real threat to the religious freedom of millions." No it doesn't! It's incredibly frustrating when opponents of gay marriage pretend that a right is being taken from them. The right to marry was taken from gays, and now some states and governments are overturning that decision and confirming that right. At no point was any church or religious institution in danger of being forced to marry gays!

There's plenty more I can point out in this article (Ugh: "given the commitments of these same liberals to personal freedom, shouldn't they also insist that the evolution take place at its own pace, without being forcibly imposed by the coercive powers of the state",) but I already wrote more than I set out to do. To wrap it up, the author is wrong when it comes to the Bible but it doesn't matter. The Bible has no place nor weight in an argument about civil freedoms.