A gay black man who supports an end to capital punishment, Alexander Robinson has no problem with advocating for multiple causes.

"In my life I sit at many tables," Robinson said. "You're not going to get all blacks to agree on everything, but it's important to stand up as an advocate."

Robinson, executive director and CEO of the National Black Justice Coalition, spoke Wednesday to about two dozen people in Dubuque. On a whirlwind tour of eight Iowa cities sponsored by various human rights groups, Robinson discussed ways same-sex marriage supporters can bring others to see their point of view.

Focus on being a justice movement, Robinson urged the people at the Naughty Dog Coffee Bar & Deli.

Opponents have been successful in driving a wedge between the lesbian/gay community and the black community because of the large number of blacks who regularly attend church, "And the more people attend church, the less inclined they are to support marriage equality," Robinson said. "This is why it is so important to stress this is about civil union.

"Others can debate

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about what the gospels say about homosexual marriage -- which is nothing," he said, getting chuckles and nods from his audience. "It's our job to stay away from that. Our job is to interpret what it means that our laws say all Americans should have equal access."

The Iowa Supreme Court's recent ruling declaring the state's ban on same-sex marriage as unconstitutional has inflamed passions as gay and lesbian couples apply for marriage licenses and opponents call for a constitutional amendment restoring the ban.

On many issues, people just aren't thoughtful and need to be encouraged to think them through, Robinson said.

"We haven't convinced enough people that excluding gay and lesbian people from marriage is discrimination," he said.

A former political strategist and communications specialist for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Robinson said the NAACP has not taken a stand on the marriage issue specifically, but noted that the organization is opposed to any state or federal amendment that would discriminate against any people. That conviction is the lesbian/gay community's opportunity to build coalitions, he said.

Iowa is a state that has a history of being progressive, showing leadership in securing rights for blacks and women, Robinson said. But inserting an amendment prohibiting same-sex marriage "would build discrimination into the constitution."

"Keep up the good fight," Robinson encouraged the Dubuquers, "because this is about living the American dream and we're all a part of that."