Introduced During Native Son’s 10th Anniversary Awards Weekend and Supported by Gilead Sciences, Inc., the Fellowship Invests in Black LGBTQ+ Storytellers and Changemakers Helping Advance HIV Awareness and Reduce Stigma
Native Son today announced the inaugural Native Son Fellowship, a new initiative designed to support Black LGBTQ+ content creators, advocates and cultural leaders who are shaping conversations around wellness, representation and HIV awareness. Launching during Native Son’s milestone 10th Anniversary Awards Weekend (June 19-21) and supported by Gilead Sciences, Inc., the fellowship represents a significant new chapter in both organization’s shared commitment to advancing health equity and investing in trusted community voices who can amplify culturally competent HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care resources through authentic storytelling and community-centered engagement.
The Fellowship marks a natural extension of the longstanding partnership between Gilead Sciences and Native Son. Over the years, the organizations have worked together to elevate community-driven perspectives, foster meaningful dialogue, and create opportunities that center the lived experiences, leadership, and cultural contributions of Black queer people. Created in recognition of the vital role storytellers, creators, and cultural leaders play in shaping public understanding and influencing culture, the Native Son Fellowship invests in a new generation of voices whose authenticity, credibility, and reach can help drive lasting impact within their communities.
“Gilead Sciences is proud to support platforms like the Native Son Awards that celebrate leadership, elevate culture, and amplify trusted voices across Black communities,” said Rashad Burgess, Vice President, Corporate Responsibility, Gilead Sciences. “Our work at Gilead is grounded in the belief that scientific breakthroughs only matter if they reach the people they are designed to serve. Through partnerships like this, we’re helping confront stigma, remove barriers to care, and advance healthier, more equitable futures.”
The inaugural fellowship cohort includes a diverse group of Black LGBTQ+ creators, artists, journalists, cultural commentators and advocates whose work spans media, mental health, fashion, visual art, storytelling and community engagement. Fellows will participate in a series of immersive experiences throughout Native Son’s 10th Anniversary Weekend, including a Creator Lab and Story Incubator focused on culturally relevant health communications, the Native Son Awards, Native Son House, and a fireside conversation with accomplished R&B singer and actor Terrell Carter and award-winning playwright and actor Jordan E. Cooper. Fellows will continue their engagement through a post-event advisory roundtable and ongoing content creation focused on health equity, HIV awareness and community wellness.
The inaugural Native Son Fellows include:
- Osaze Akil (@osaze_akil) – Contemporary visual artist and experiential designer.
- LaQuann Dawson (@laquanndawson) – photographer, filmmaker, and multidisciplinary artist.
- Frank Grimsley (@franknthecity) – Content creator, motivational speaker, and the Season 4 winner of Netflix’s The Circle.
- Shahem McLaurin (@5hahem) – Licensed therapist, social worker, and host of the Freedom Collective Therapy podcast.
- Trey Sherman (@treymous) – Filmmaker, television producer, and co-host of the talk show Just Press Play with Ell & Trey.
- Jay Tibbitts (@jaytibbitts) – Fashion critic, style and culture commentator, and content creator
For Native Son, the fellowship represents not only a new program, but the next chapter in a partnership grounded in a shared belief that lasting change happens when communities are empowered to tell their own stories and lead their own futures.
“Native Son was founded to create opportunities for Black queer men to be seen, celebrated, and connected to one another,” said Emil Wilbekin, Founder and CEO of Native Son. “This fellowship builds upon that mission by investing directly in a new generation of storytellers and cultural leaders whose voices carry tremendous influence within our communities. We are proud to deepen our partnership with Gilead through a program that not only amplifies important health information but also affirms the power of our stories.”
The fellowship reflects Gilead’s broader commitment to eliminating barriers to care in HIV by supporting community-led solutions and trusted voices. By equipping fellows with resources, access, and opportunities for engagement, the initiative aims to foster year-round conversations that reduce stigma, increase awareness, and encourage healthier outcomes across Black LGBTQ+ communities.
The launch of the Native Son Fellowship comes as Native Son celebrates its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of building community and elevating Black queer voices. The 2026 Native Son Awards arrives at a pivotal moment for both the organization and the community it serves. Over the past decade, Native Son has evolved from a digital platform created to increase visibility and representation for Black queer men into a nationally recognized movement and cultural institution dedicated to advocacy, leadership development, cultural engagement, and community-building year-round. Through workshops, panel conversations, networking events, wellness initiatives, mentorship opportunities, and strategic partnerships, Native Son continues to create intentional spaces that uplift, connect, and invest in Black queer communities.
For additional information on Native Son and its Pride events and initiatives, please
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ABOUT THE NATIVE SON AWARDS
The annual Native Son Awards celebrates Black queer men who are maverick and trailblazers and who have broken barriers -both professionally and personally. Native Son is committed to inspiring and empowering Black queer men with a mission to harness their collective power, ensuring that their voices, visibility and lived experiences are elevated. Past honorees include: Colman Domingo, Don Lemon, Billy Porter, Lee Daniels, Sean Bankhead, Darren Walker, Jonathan Capehart and Lil Nas X.
ABOUT NATIVE SON
Native Son is a movement that exemplifies the duality of being Black and gay in a society that often shuns and belittles their unique experiences. This movement aims to create a safe space where the Black queer community can fellowship, celebrate and empower each other, and – most importantly – see themselves. From the world-renowned to the up-and-coming, Native Son aims to connect and celebrate the members of this influential, yet long ignored community in the realms of arts, business, media, fashion, politics and healthcare.
ABOUT EMIL WILBEKIN
Emil Wilbekin is an Assistant Professor of Journalism at the Fashion Institute of Technology. He is a multimedia maverick who contributes to The New York Times T Magazine, Vogue, The Cut, Architectural Digest, Time, Essence, Ebony, and Town & Country. He is the Co-Producer and Co- Writer on the documentary The Remix: Hip Hop X Fashion (Netflix). He is also the Founder of Native Son, a platform created to inspire and empower Black queer men. Wilbekin has served as Chief Content Officer at Afropunk, Editor-at-Large at Essence, Managing Editor of Essence.com, Editor-in-Chief of Giant and Giantmag.com, Style Guru at Complex Media, VP of Brand Development at Marc Eckō Enterprises, Editorial Director/Vice President of Vibe Ventures and Editor-in-Chief of Vibe Magazine. Under Wilbekin’s leadership, Vibe won the National Magazine Award for General Excellence in 2002. He holds a B.S. in Mass Media Arts from Hampton University, and an M.S. in Journalism from Columbia University.
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