In all that he does, Keith is guided by a singular commitment to coalition building. Whether in his early work organizing ballot infinitive campaigns, his leadership on LGBTQ+ rights and legislation at EQMD, or his time at AFJ, Keith lends his compelling voice to championing the rights we hold so dear.
With nearly nine years at Alliance for Justice under his belt, our incoming Co-President Keith Thirion is one of AFJ’s longest-tenured staff. He joined AFJ in 2015 as Director of Outreach and became Vice President of Strategy in 2021, overseeing the pillars of AFJ’s work: our Justice, Bolder Advocacy, and Outreach & Membership programs. (Keith also spearheads many of the advocacy campaigns of AFJ Action, AFJ’s 501(c)(4) affiliated organization.)
Keith has deep roots in the Greater Washington metropolitan region: prior to AFJ, he served as Acting Director of Equality Maryland (as well as EQMD’s Director of Advocacy & Programs) and as Virginia Field Director at Chesapeake Climate Action Network. AT CCAN, he successfully fought for climate justice for Virginia citizens, helping defeat a proposal for what would have been the largest coal plant in the state, and exposing the state’s most powerful utility company.
In all that he does, Keith is guided by a singular commitment to coalition building. Whether in his early work organizing ballot infinitive campaigns, his leadership on LGBTQ+ rights and legislation at EQMD, or his time at AFJ, Keith lends his compelling voice to championing the rights we hold so dear. Especially at this critical juncture in American democracy, we are truly grateful to have leaders such as Keith in this fight.
Vibrant, impactful, strategic.
Working with amazing colleagues to create lasting change. We have an incredible team, and the work we do touches every issue that drives me, from LGBTQ equality to climate and environment to racial justice to workers’ rights and more. Our courts and nonprofit advocacy are critical to protecting the progressive advances we’ve made and moving closer to securing justice for all.
Harkening to my organizing roots, I find hope in the long term power we build even when we’re losing in the short term. Having made it through the Trump years, I have no rose colored glasses about the impact on our world, but we saw incredible gains in progressive organizing with new organizations bursting onto the scene and established organizations embracing new strategies. And AFJ was at the forefront helping organizations maximize their advocacy and growing the courts movement to be ready on day one of the Biden administration.
I’m always up for finding a new restaurant or coffee shop, but my go-to’s include Copycat, Slash Run, and The Little Grand. I also love DC’s theater scene, namely Studio Theatre, Mosaic Theater at Atlas, Keegan, and Woolly Mammoth.