 Keith Toney, formerly Keith Fitzpatrick, is a native of Massachusetts, where he continues to reside. He graduated from Worcester State College in 1993 with a B.S.B.A., concentrating in Accounting. Keith spent fourteen years in Corporate America holding various positions in the accounting and financial analyst fields when he then decided to turn his focus towards building a society that is inclusive rather than divisive. He became very active in the fight for equality for gays and lesbians beginning in 1999, and remains committed to this cause. Keith currently is the Vice President and CFO of the diversity education consulting business, AK Consulting Services Inc, which he and his life partner created in 2002. Through AK Consulting Services, he works with non-profit organizations, corporations, universities and faith-based institutions to educate society about the many aspects of living in a diverse community. He co-authored and edited the informational book, Jumping the Broom - A Black Perspective of Same-Gender Marriage, the Massachusetts edition, in 2007 for MassEquality and the National Black Justice Coalition. In 2004 Keith and his spouse, Al Toney, were featured in the Showtime documentary, Same Sex America, which followed the couple through the marriage equality debate in Massachusetts to their own wedding. They successfully challenged the Federal Government's Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in 2009 regarding same-sex marriage licenses being acceptable proof of a legal name change for passport purposes. Keith was promptly issued his new passport under his new married name once the US Dept of State changed the law regulating acceptable documentation. Keith is the author and co-creator of their first in a series of diversity and anti-bullying children's books, Snions, Stiraffes and Frish… Hooray! Gonzo Finds Fairview Valley, published in 2012.
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