iN-HALE Entertainment & Media In Partnership With Gilead Sciences Presented The Inaugural "Cultural Architects & Torchbearers Event in Atlanta To Rave Reviews

 

Media Contact: Ra-Fael Blanco | THE BLANCO AGENCY

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iN-HALE MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT, POWERED BY GILEAD SCIENCES, PRESENTED THE INAUGURAL CULTURAL ARCHITECTS & TORCHBEARERS: THEN, AND NOW TO RAVE REVIEWS

A Landmark Immersive Celebration Honoring the LGBTQIA+ Artists Who Have Shaped Culture Across Generations

Atlanta, GA – December 23, 2025 – This past weekend, in Atlanta, GA, an event unfolded that refused to be ordinary. Inside the Illuminarium Atlanta event space, Cultural Architects & Torchbearers: Then, and Now, presented by iN-HALE Media & Entertainment and powered by Gilead Sciences, transformed from a scheduled program into a living cultural moment. This was not a gathering people simply attended — it was an experience people entered, one that demanded attention, reflection, and presence.

From the moment guests arrived, the atmosphere signaled intention. The space felt curated rather than crowded, immersive rather than overwhelming. There was a shared understanding in the room that this evening was built with care — that it was meant to honor legacy, elevate artistry, and create connection rather than spectacle. Attendees included, Jussie Smollett, Terri J. Vaughn, Derek J, Miss Lawrence, Michel Boyd, Nicco Annan, Lisa Bonner and many other notable culture architects.

At the heart of the evening was Nathan Hale Williams, Founder and President of iN-HALE Media & Entertainment, whose vision shaped the experience from beginning to end. Cultural Architects & Torchbearers: Then, and Now reflected Williams’ long-standing belief that storytelling is not just entertainment, but preservation — a way to honor truth, lineage, and courage.

Through four original short films, Williams curated a cinematic tribute to LGBTQIA+ artists whose work has shaped global culture across generations. Figures such as Alvin Ailey, Audre Lorde, Billy Porter, Laverne Cox, Lena Waithe, and Patrick Kelly were honored not as distant icons, but as cultural architects whose influence continues to ripple through today’s creative landscape.

As the program continued, the experience expanded beyond artistic tribute into a broader conversation about responsibility, access, and impact when Marcus Wilson, Senior Director of U.S. Public Affairs for Gilead Sciences, Inc., took the stage. Wilson’s presence did not interrupt the flow of the evening — it deepened it. He reminded the audience that Gilead Sciences, a biopharmaceutical company with more than three decades of pursuing and achieving breakthroughs in medicine, is driven by a clear goal: creating a healthier world for all people. His remarks were grounded and human, reinforcing that innovation in medicine must always remain connected to the communities it serves.

Jacob Lusk delivered a musical performance that grounded the room with both power and vulnerability. His voice set the tone for the evening — intimate, resonant, and deeply felt. A moving dance work choreographed by former Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater dancer Christopher Jackson, performed by Olivier Medus of the Metropolitan Opera of New York, translated legacy into motion. Each movement felt intentional, turning the body into a vessel for memory and expression.

Throughout the evening, ButtaFlySoul, award-winning spoken-word artist from Def Poetry Jam, served as Master of Ceremonies, weaving poetry and reflection into the experience with authenticity and grace. DJ Poison Ivy’s musical curation connected eras, reinforcing the event’s central message — that culture evolves, but its roots remain deeply connected.

"What made Cultural Architects & Torchbearers: Then, and Now exceptional was how seamlessly these elements worked together. Williams’ storytelling vision and Wilson’s advocacy leadership were not separate messages — they were complementary forces, each strengthening the other. The event became a model of what is possible when creativity, science, and community share the same purpose," Levar Kemp, Editor-In-Chief, SNUBB3ED Magazine.

The audience felt it.