Hateful rhetoric? Certainly not! Read the very next chapter.

In Romans 2: "You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things."

"Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?"

Christians are not to condemn anyone, for we are sinners, too. No one has anything to fear from true Christians. We will argue for laws that promote good behavior as we see it, just like you think you do. But you clearly take out of context the part about "deserve death." That is God's judgement, not ours, and Paul emphasizes this. And God does everything possible to avoid that death sentence, including allowing His own son Jesus to die for our sins, and raising him back to life to prove it. Witnessed by 500!