Confusing cause and effect

The story shows that the men of the city were in the habit of raping any men they wanted.

The events in the story are meant to demonstrate that the people of Sodom and Gomorrah were godless, selfish and unrepentant people who would rape a stranger without feeling any remorse and without any pangs of conscience.

The homosexuality in the story was no more significant than the fact the men were willing to commit rape. Both in this case were symptoms of their total rejection of God. The destruction God brought on Sodom and Gomorrah was just punishment for their total rejection of God.

As for Lot stopping his "bargaining with God" when he reached a certain number of righteous people, it seems obvious that Lot had realised by that point that God was telling him "Lot, YOU are the only righteous man in the city".

Refusal to accept God's law, "love God and love your neighbour as yourself" was the cause. Rape was only a symptom of that cause.

You don't "become good" so that God will accept you. God accepts anyone who comes to him in true repentance. If any changes are required, God will help you work on that after you've accepted him.

Jason (explanatorially)