On May 26, 2009 California's Supreme Court upheld the vote to ban gay marriage within its borders. This was a devastating blow to all, not just in the LGBT community but every minority in America. The time for leadership is now, at least Huffman thinks so. Alice Huffman and sister at Robinson-Satorie Wedding

When I specifically brought up the subject of the NBJC under the leadership of Robinson she only spoke of positive things. She emphasizes certain traits that he had when working with community leaders that no other has had, at least not in a long time. When I asked her, what would happen to without strong leadership from strong Black Gay Leadership from Robinson? Huffman replies, "I rely on him heavily…". "…it would be catastrophic"

Alexander Robinson and Julian Bond, Chairman of the NAACP

Though about 18,000 Pre-Prop 8 same sex-marriages performed in California are still valid, many in the LGBT community are angry and hurt that for the near future Gays and Lesbians will not be able to get married in the state of California. The bottom line is we need leadership; leadership that will actually step to the plate; leadership that will actually hit a homerun for LGBT civil rights, leaders like NBJC's H. Alexander Robinson. When I inquired about Civil Rights Leaders like H. Alexander Robinson, Huffman praised the way he is able to open up the floor for discussions amongst Black and LGBT leaders. He bridges the black LGBT community with the broader civil rights agenda. "It was an immediate void that was filled..." "All of a sudden he was able to get [LGBT] African Americans to organize" "...He has been very, very powerful as we continue to move forward fighting for marriage equality". The leadership of Alice Huffman and Alexander Robinson are exactly what we need to open up forums between Black and Gay politicians, activist, lobbyist etc. Letting them go would be not only be letting the LGBT community or the black community down but the whole community down.

INTERVIEW

Alexander Robinson and Benjamin Jealous & wife

H. Alexander Robinson married his longtime partner Gregory M. Satorie in California last year, which made the couple one of the 18,000 marriages performed in the state Pre-Proposition 8. Huffman also attended the Robinson and Satorie wedding. This fight is very personal for him. Robinson understands the importance of marriage equality and appreciates the importance of bringing this issue to the larger civil rights agenda. His work with the NAACP in California and nationally demonstrates this understanding. Huffman shares "I started working on Gays and Lesbians right just before NBJC was formed…we the CA NAACP supported legislation and that got me on the LGBT circuit…" "I found a real deficit in the [LGBT] movement because AA for the most part were not there I felt he [Robinson] filled the void there…" Within the black LGBT community, many do not see the connection and relevance of the Marriage debate. Robinson understands the issue from a larger perspective, in that it is at its core discrimination. Banning same-sex marriage is a refusal to grant equal rights to all citizens and in the case of Prop 8, is sitting by and allowing "the majority" to deal the rights of minorities. Both Robinson and Huffman recognize this slippery slope and as Huffman says, "If you go back in the history of social change nobody's ever done it alone…". "…there is a community that is [organized and], actually working towards rescuing from the bigotry in America so I just think it's a great partnership and I'm glad to have them on our team". Prior articles about the NBJC