Native Son, a movement dedicated to empowering and celebrating black gay men, turns 10, and is celebrating its anniversary in star-studded style.
The organization, founded by media mogul Emile Wilbekin, will host its signature Native Son Awards on Juneteenth (June 19) at New York City’s Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers. The evening will be themed “Pride Legacy” and will honor director and producer Anthony Hemingway, singer-songwriter Durand Bernard and to cut Star Trammell Tillman; Newly appointed Native Son board member Lena Waithe will also be on hand to produce the Pride Month event.
In honor of its 10th anniversary, Native Son is also expanding beyond just awards for the long weekend experience (running June 19-21) to programs and initiatives. This will include the introduction of Native Son House, which will take over The Maison Project’s event space for a mix of curated talks, live interviews, screenings, screenings, wellness activations, workshops, markets and immersive experiences.
“For 10 years, Native Son has created a space for Black gay men to be seen for our full identity — as leaders, innovators, visionaries and change-makers,” Wilbekin said in a statement. “At a time when our communities continue to face increasing attacks on visibility, equity, and inclusion, this anniversary is not only a celebration of how far we have come, but a declaration that our stories, our voices, and our futures matter. What started as a bold idea has evolved into a powerful movement grounded in connection, advocacy, culture, and community. Expanding Native Son into a full weekend experience reflects the continued growth of this organization and our ongoing commitment to creating spaces where Black people can gather, affirm, build community, and thrive unapologetically.”
Along with Wyeth, Native Son Awards co-chairs include Darnell Moore, Yashua Simmons, and George M. Johnson, Kyle Hagler, Opio Jones, Jermell Simon, Andrew McCaskill, and Marcus Johnson-McCaskill. For those who cannot attend in person, the event will also be available to watch via live stream via the Native Son YouTube and Facebook pages.
