Anthony Hemingway, Durand Bernarr and Tramell Tillman Phillip Faraone/Getty Images; Paul Morigi/Getty Images; Earl Gibson III/Deadline via Getty Images Native Son, a movement dedicated to empowering and celebrating Black queer men, is turning 10, and is celebrating its milestone anniversary in star-studded fashion.
The organization, founded by media mogul Emil Wilbekin, will host its signature Native Son Awards on Juneteenth (June 19) at NYC’s Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers. The evening will be themed “A Legacy of Pride” and will honor director/producer Anthony Hemingway, singer-songwriter Durand Bernarr and Severance star Tramell Tillman; Lena Waithe, a newly appointed Native Son board member, will also be on hand to produce the Pride Month event.
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In honor of the 10th anniversary, Native Son is also expanding beyond just the awards for a weekend-long experience (running June 19-21) of programs and initiatives. That will include the introduction of Native Son House, which will take over The Maison Project event space for a mix of curated conversations, live interviews, screenings, performances, wellness activations, workshops, marketplaces and immersive experiences.
“For 10 years, Native Son has created space for Black queer men to be seen in the fullness of who we are — as leaders, creatives, visionaries and changemakers,” Wilbekin said in a statement. “At a time when our communities continue to face growing attacks on visibility, equity and inclusion, this anniversary is not only a celebration of how far we’ve come, but a declaration that our stories, our voices and our futures matter. What began 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 both the continued growth of this organization and our ongoing commitment to creating spaces where Black queer people can gather, be affirmed, build community and thrive unapologetically.”
Along with Waithe, co-chairs for the Native Son Awards include Darnell Moore and Yashua Simmons, George M. Johnson, Kyle Hagler, Obio Jones and Jermelle Simone, Andrew McCaskill and Marcus Johnson-McCaskill. For those unable to attend in person, the event will also be available to view on livestream via Native Son’s YouTube and Facebook pages.
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