Larry Kramer sure knows how to get a rise out of people. Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays (the organization otherwise known as PFLAG) have issued a response to Kramer's Los Angeles Times op-ed in which the legendary gay activist blasted so-called straight hate.

Kramer's offending piece opens, "Dear Straight People, Why do you hate gay people so much?" The 200,000-strong PFLAG insists that's just not so.

In their piece, "Larry Kramer Is rong... This Time", PFLAG President John Cepek and executive director Jody M. Huckaby agree:

Larry Kramer’s blanket assertions weren’t just unfair – they were a monumental injustice to the thousands of straight allies that we (and many people like us) encounter each day.

Though they agree Kramer's an invaluable member of the good ol' gay cause, Huckaby and Cepek justly argue that his argument's unjustly one-sided. For example, Kramer mentions the rising tide of anti-gay violence, but fails to mention straight allies in the legislature, such as John Conyers - the man who helped file the new hate crime bill.

Toward the end of the lengthy piece, which we've included down below, the friendly duo agree that there's hate toward gay people and, yes, new directions are necessary but:

...it will not happen with a blanket indictment of all straight people. It will happen when we make it clear that they are welcome to join us, as they have always been, and there is a role for them in our movement.

This is part of a much larger and arduous political debate. At which point does a social group work with the so-called enemy - the group against which they've so arbitrarily been pitted?

In the case of gays, of course, this capricious category's occupied by the heterosexuals of the world. We must then ask ourselves: Are queers better off fighting their own battles? Do we need straights? Can they be trusted?

Speaking from our own virtual-personal experience, there is most certainly a place for straights in queer movements. The proverbial fight is not about demarcating special gay land - as some conservatives would have you believe - it's about creating a truly democratic society. The gay rights movement - or, rather, movements - cannot be dissociated from the greater good of equality for all. Unless, of course, you're an extreme segregationist, in which case you don't give a toot about anyone but yourself.

The democratic ideal should shine in gay communities, as well. Gay television network here! wants to submit its shows and movies to the GLAAD media awards. Too bad GLAAD isn't having it. Aside from being entirely hypocritical, it's just not right. Neither are the amounts of racism still evident within queer communities. Nor the barring straights helping fight all those nasty homo-haters out there. We may not need their help, but it certainly helps things along.

"Larry Kramer is Wrong…This Time"
By John Cepek and Jody M. Huckaby

Hate is a very strong word.

In his use of the word in an editorial yesterday, Larry Kramer certainly had some valid points. There are many people who do hate gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) people. Sadly, such individuals are in places high and low, from the halls of Congress to people in our neighborhoods. Even more tragically, such people have had a disproportionate impact on the lives of our GLBT loved ones and ourselves.

However, we have to make a strong stand on this issue: Larry Kramer’s blanket assertions weren’t just unfair – they were a monumental injustice to the thousands of straight allies that we (and many people like us) encounter each day.

To be clear, Kramer has some valid points. The deafening silence of any of the presidential contenders on General Pace’s comments is horrifying, and GLBT people and their allies should take them to task for it. Our votes must not be taken for granted. The massive inequality our loved ones face as a result of the denial of equal protection is inexcusable, particularly for a nation that boasts of its opportunity for all.

But things are changing, and perhaps it is time for Mr. Kramer to acknowledge the tremendous bravery of straight people who are saying that enough is enough.

We wish that Mr. Kramer could meet the thousands of straight PFLAG members that we work with each day, many of whom are involved because of their love for their GLBT children. They’ve been at this since 1973 and have changed the face of what the “homosexual activist” is.

We wish that Mr. Kramer could meet many of our straight allies who have taken staff and leadership positions in PFLAG and other non-GLBT focused groups who don’t have a son, daughter, brother or sister who is GLBT to speak of, but recognize that equality is an issue for all of us. They are constantly scrutinized for their efforts and proudly tell their opposition that they will do the right thing, no matter what dangers they face.

We wish that Mr. Kramer could listen to some of the calls that we get on a daily basis. The hairdresser from a town in Virginia too small to even get noted on a map who called her newspaper and urged them to question why people are so homophobic and wanted to know what she could do to change people’s minds as she changes their hair. The financial advisor in Texas who became a PFLAG leader because she hated seeing GLBT people get treated unfairly. The retirees with no GLBT family in a village in Arizona who started a PFLAG chapter just because they thought that their community may need one. We could go on with examples for pages.

We wish that Mr. Kramer could acknowledge many corporations who have not just created safe spaces for their GLBT and ally employees, but ensured their security with policies that extend benefits to partners and families, network groups and programs to help people see that we are more the same than different. Many of these corporations have done so knowing that it would cost them business, but forged ahead anyway, clearly demonstrating their understanding of why it’s important to value all people equally, from Main Street to Wall Street.

We wish that Mr. Kramer didn’t just point out what is wrong in communities of faith, but what is right. For example, there are many Episcopal congregations threatening to break off and follow the Nigerian lead, but there are many who have stood their ground on having inclusive leadership. Gene Robinson wasn’t brought into his position by a room full of gay people, but by church leadership that was largely heterosexual. Many other faith traditions like the United Church of Christ have followed suit.

We wonder why Mr. Kramer didn’t note that while horrific hate crimes do continue to occur far too often, federal legislation to respond to these events has been introduced in Congress, again by a straight legislator, John Conyers. It is also supported by a tremendous number of law enforcement groups who are ostensibly not made up of a majority of gays.

Hate for GLBT people exists, and we (along with all PFLAG members) feel it. This is about our loved ones and ourselves. There are countless changes to be made to institutions as well as hearts and minds. But it will not happen with a blanket indictment of all straight people. It will happen when we make it clear that they are welcome to join us, as they have always been, and there is a role for them in our movement. This has been at the core of PFLAG since our inception in 1973, and our new Straight for EqualitySM project specifically focuses on welcoming even more straight allies to help PFLAG and every other fair-minded organization create real change and end GLBT discrimination in every community across the country.

These things happen because there are many straight people who don’t hate. Our collective power is a united voice of parents, family members, and straight people together with GLBT people.

We wish Mr. Kramer would take the time to see these straight people, celebrate them and welcome others to join our work to move equality forward.