COMMUNITY ORGANIZING

Keith Boykin started his career as an activist. From his early days organizing protests at Harvard Law School to his last position as president of the board of directors of the National Black Justice Coalition, Keith has had a long career in activism. Previously he worked as executive director of the National Black Lesbian and Gay Leadership Forum, where he helped lead a contingent of 200 black gay men in the Million Man March, met with community leaders and elected officials, and developed relationships with the media to promote the visibility of the black LGBT community.

NATIONAL POLITICS

Keith joined the Clinton/Gore campaign after graduating from law school. When Clinton was elected, Keith was appointed to the White House, where he worked on wide range of issues, including LGBT concerns. He helped to organize and participated in the nation's first meeting between a U.S. president and gay and lesbian leaders, and he drafted President Clinton's statements on anti-gay ballot initiatives and on the 1993 gay and lesbian march on Washington.

INTERNATIONAL

In July 1997, Keith joined Coretta Scott King, Dorothy Height, Rev. Jesse Jackson and U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater on a presidential trade mission to Harare, Zimbabwe. At a time when Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe denounced homosexuality, Keith met with the leaders of the organization, Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe. As the only openly gay member of the United States delegation, Keith also questioned Zimbabwean cabinet members, and judicial officials about the government's policies toward gays and lesbians.

ON CAMPUS

Keith served as editor in chief of the daily campus newspaper at Dartmouth College when that campus exploded into controversy in 1986 with protests over divestment in South Africa that led to a two-day occupation of the campus administration building.

Years later, he used that experience as a part of the faculty diversity movement at Harvard Law School and participated in a coalition that organized student strike days, silent vigils, an occupation of the dean's office and protests at the president's office. The diversity campaign culminated when students filed a groundbreaking lawsuit against Harvard University. Keith was one of 11 named plaintiffs in the lawsuit, and he personally argued a portion of the case in Massachusetts Superior Court.

WRITING

In recent years, Keith has used his writings to speak out on a range of issues including capital punishment, affirmative action, HIV/AIDS, racism, homophobia, and the war on terrorism. Read more about his writings in the Author section.