Throughout the month of February, Family Equality Council is celebrating Black History Month by honoring the accomplishments, contributions, and lives of LGBT Black Americans, past and present.
Keith Boykin (8/28/1965- )—White House aide, broadcast contributor, and writer. After graduating from Dartmouth College and Harvard Law, Boykin worked on the 1992 Clinton/Gore campaign. He then became Special Assistant to the President and Director of Specialty Media. This made Boykin the highest-ranking openly LGBT person in the White House. He helped organize and facilitate the country’s first meeting between the President and gay rights leaders, then left the White House in 1996 to write and teach political science at American University (1999-2001). In addition to his subsequent work in journalism, broadcasting, political commentary, and co-hosting a talk show, Boykin served several years as president of the board for the National Black Justice Coalition, a DC-based civil rights organization. He will publish his latest book, For Colored Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Still Not Enough, this fall. You can find Keith Boykin on Twitter: @keithboykin