Reggie White, the star defensive lineman of the Green Bay Packers, drew sharp criticism from some state legislators today after his remarks concerning a range of racial and ethnic groups in an off-the-cuff talk before the State Assembly.

White, a minister at a Knoxville, Tenn., church that was burned down by arsonists in 1996, was invited by Republican leaders to talk about his New Hope project. The project, which operates in Wisconsin and Tennessee, encourages urban redevelopment and promotes minority ownership of small businesses.

But his comments ranged from remarks on race relations to his interpretations of Scripture.

White said that homosexuality is ''one of the biggest sins'' in the Bible and said that he was ''offended'' by gay and lesbian groups that compare their struggle for civil rights to the struggles of African-Americans.

''In the process of history, homosexuals have never been castrated,'' as enslaved blacks were, he said. ''Millions of them never died. Homosexuality is a decision. It's not a race.''