Native Son Launches Groundbreaking Fellowship Investing in Black LGBTQ+ Storytellers and Changemakers
For the past decade, Native Son has been dedicated to creating spaces where Black queer voices are seen, celebrated, and empowered. Now, as the organization marks its 10th anniversary, it is taking that mission even further with the launch of a groundbreaking new initiative designed to invest directly in the future of Black LGBTQ+ leadership.
Native Son has officially announced the inaugural Native Son Fellowship, a first-of-its-kind program created to support Black LGBTQ+ creators, advocates, artists, journalists, and cultural leaders whose work is helping shape conversations around representation, wellness, community engagement, and HIV awareness.
Launching during Native Son’s milestone 10th Anniversary Awards Weekend, taking place June 19 through June 21, the fellowship is supported by Gilead Sciences and represents a powerful commitment to health equity, authentic storytelling, and community-centered leadership.
At a time when representation and trusted voices matter more than ever, the fellowship recognizes the critical role creators and cultural leaders play in influencing public understanding, reducing stigma, and driving meaningful conversations within their communities.
The program builds upon the longstanding partnership between Native Son and Gilead Sciences, organizations that have spent years working together to elevate Black queer voices, create opportunities for visibility, and advance conversations surrounding HIV prevention, testing, treatment, and care.
“Scientific breakthroughs only matter if they reach the people they are designed to serve,” said Rashad Burgess, Vice President of Corporate Responsibility at Gilead Sciences. Through partnerships like Native Son, the organization continues working to remove barriers to care while creating healthier and more equitable futures for communities disproportionately impacted by HIV.
The inaugural fellowship cohort represents a diverse group of Black LGBTQ+ creatives whose work spans visual art, fashion, mental health advocacy, filmmaking, storytelling, media, and community engagement.
The 2026 Native Son Fellows include contemporary visual artist and experiential designer Osaze Akil, photographer and filmmaker LaQuann Dawson, content creator and Netflix’s The Circle winner Frank Grimsley, licensed therapist and Freedom Collective Therapy podcast host Shahem McLaurin, filmmaker and television producer Trey Sherman, and fashion critic and culture commentator Jay Tibbitts.
Throughout Native Son’s anniversary weekend, fellows will participate in immersive experiences including a Creator Lab, Story Incubator, Native Son House, the Native Son Awards, and a special fireside conversation featuring accomplished actor and singer Terrell Carter alongside award-winning playwright and actor Jordan E. Cooper.
The experience extends beyond the anniversary celebration. Fellows will continue participating in advisory discussions and content creation initiatives focused on health equity, HIV awareness, community wellness, and reducing stigma throughout the year.
For Native Son founder and CEO Emil Wilbekin, the fellowship represents a natural evolution of the organization’s mission.
Since its founding, Native Son has grown from a digital platform focused on increasing visibility for Black queer men into a nationally recognized cultural institution dedicated to advocacy, leadership development, mentorship, wellness, and community building.
“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,” Wilbekin shared.
As Native Son celebrates ten years of impact, the launch of the fellowship serves as a reminder that lasting change happens when communities are empowered to tell their own stories, shape their own narratives, and lead their own futures.
More than a fellowship, this initiative is an investment in voices, visibility, and the next generation of Black LGBTQ+ leadership.
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