UK rugby star Ben Cohen has said that straight people don't get why he's fighting to end homophobia.

The openly straight Cohen retired from rugby earlier this year to helm the Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation to combat homophobia.

The gay ally was in Miami, where his gay rights advocacy was honored on Saturday by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force at the group's annual recognition dinner.

In an interview with NBC Miami, Cohen was asked, “Did you receive any criticism when you first began your foundation?”

“Yeah, not many people get it,” Cohen said. “Well, that's not true. A lot of people do get it. But a lot of straight people have asked, 'Why are you doing this?' I just explain that it really is just to break down stereotypes. I knew I would be able to speak to both the gay and straight community and maybe reach a few different groups of people. I just want people to know that how you treat others is how you should want to be treated yourself. Random acts of kindness are simple.”