Apparently, I'm Evil

I am so tired of being told that I am going to go to Hell. I've heard that bible verse so many times that it is most likely permanently written on my brain.

• Leviticus 20:13 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.

Do people actually believe this? Are human beings just that gullible that we believe that we are supposed to base all of our morals and lifestyles on some sort of almighty book? I thought that the American dream was supposed to be freedom and independence, not surrendering your free will to a stack of paper that is supposedly the words of some "devine creator."
I mean, I understand how people can believe in this stuff as children. The minds of children are naive and easily manipulated. They will just as easily believe in God as they will Santa Claus. But once they get older they realize that logic does not allow the existance of Santa. so they dismiss him. But why can't the same principle be applied to God? He's just as illogical if not more?
How can people say that who I'm attracted to defines whether I'm a good person or not? That makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Shouldn't it be my actions and/or contribution to society that determines what my motives are as a person? Around 53% of Americans believe that homosexuality is immoral and wrong. Wouldn't you think that it would be slightly difficult to contribute to a country when half of it thinks that anything I chose to "live a life of evil?"