What does it mean that God gave them up to vile affections?
It means God judicially gave them over to shameful, lower desires as a consequence of their idolatry, unbelief, and rebellion. Because they rejected the incorruptible God for man-made images, He sovereignly allowed them to descend into deeper sin, not as loose language but as a settled divine judgment.
Les explains that Romans 1 traces this to the Tower of Babel, where mankind changed the glory of the incorruptible God into images of corruptible man, birds, beasts, and creeping things. Because they fell into idolatry, God gave them up to uncleanness (v. 24), and when they went lower, He gave them up to vile affections (v. 26). Les stresses this is not loose language; a sovereign God judicially said, if you want to live at that level, then go down one level lower. He compares it to Israel in Romans 11, who had every opportunity and the oracles of God but ignored and refused to believe them, so God dealt with their unbelief.
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
More Questions
Why did God give them up to vile affections in Romans 1:26?
God gave them up to vile affections because of their behavior, their unbelief, and their rebellion.
What are the 'vile affections' in Romans 1:26 that God gave people over to?
In Romans 1:26, God gives people up to a still lower level than 'normal' immorality between the sexes, namely to vile affections.