Ten years ago, Emil Wilbekin started Native Son with a bold and specific premise: that Black queer men deserved a space where they could be seen in the fullness of who they are, as leaders, creatives, visionaries, and changemakers, without apology or qualification.
That premise was necessary then. In 2026, with attacks on visibility, equity, and inclusion intensifying across the country, it is more necessary than ever. And Native Son is celebrating its milestone anniversary exactly the way it should: with a Juneteenth ceremony, a weekend of community, and three honorees who have each earned this recognition.
The 2026 Native Son Awards will be held on June 19 at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers in New York City, themed A Legacy of Pride.
The evening will honor Emmy Award-winning actor Tramell Tillman, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Durand Bernarr, and Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning director and producer Anthony Hemingway. Lena Waithe, newly appointed to the Native Son board, will produce the event.
The awards are the centerpiece of a full weekend experience running June 19 through 21, which will include Native Son House, a takeover of The Maison Project event space featuring curated conversations, live interviews, screenings, performances, wellness activations, workshops, and marketplaces.
“For 10 years, Native Son has created space for Black queer men to be seen in the fullness of who we are,” 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.”
Co-chairs for the evening include Darnell Moore and Yashua Simmons, George M. Johnson, Kyle Hagler, Obio Jones and Jermelle Simone, and Andrew McCaskill and Marcus Johnson-McCaskill.
