For Brooklyn Masuku, being proudly LGBTQI+ is about more than embracing an identity. It is about having the freedom to define himself, pursue his ambitions and exist without feeling the need to seek permission or approval from others.
A proud Durban native, Brooklyn is carving out his space in the digital landscape as a Commercial Digital Officer at Gagasi FM, KwaZulu-Natal’s popular radio station. Beyond his professional journey, he is also embracing the importance of queer visibility, particularly for LGBTQI+ people who do not always see themselves represented in their communities.
“I would describe myself as someone who is still growing, learning and becoming more comfortable with who I am. Being gay is an important part of my identity, but it doesn’t define everything about me,” he says.
For Brooklyn, a key part of self-acceptance involved moving away from worrying about how others perceive him.
“My biggest breakthrough was understanding that I didn’t need anyone’s permission to exist as myself. I stopped asking, ‘Will people accept me?’ and started asking, ‘Do I accept myself?’ That shift changed everything.”
Proudly queer and proudly Durban
Growing up and living in Durban has played an important role in shaping Brooklyn’s identity and confidence. He describes the city as home, a place that has given him a strong sense of belonging while allowing him to become his own person.
For him, being proudly Durban and part of the LGBTQI+ community are not contradictory identities. Queer people are an important part of the city’s social and cultural fabric, and their contributions deserve recognition.
“I come from a place with its own complexities, and I want to show that queer people are part of Durban’s story too. We are here, we are contributing and we deserve to be seen,” he says.
Brooklyn believes that simply seeing someone confidently living as themselves can make a difference to another person navigating their own identity.
“Visibility means not hiding myself to make other people comfortable. If someone sees me being confident and comfortable, perhaps it gives them the courage to believe they can do the same.”
Pride is more than the celebrations
While Pride Month brings colour, celebrations and opportunities for the LGBTQI+ community to come together, Brooklyn believes its meaning must extend beyond the festivities.
For him, Pride represents authenticity, dignity and freedom, but it is also a reminder of the struggles and sacrifices of those who fought for the rights and freedoms enjoyed by many today.
“Pride is also resistance as much as it is celebration. We celebrate because people before us fought for the right to live openly, and we continue that work by challenging discrimination and making space for those who still cannot safely be themselves,” he explains.
He believes the real measure of Pride lies in what happens after the celebrations end: whether LGBTQI+ people are protected, respected and accepted in their everyday lives.
“South Africa can have progressive laws and still have people experiencing discrimination in their homes, workplaces and communities. Equality cannot simply exist on paper. It has to be lived.”
He argues that meaningful change requires better education, stronger communities and a willingness to challenge homophobia, transphobia and prejudice wherever they occur, rather than only addressing these issues during Pride Month.
Finding his voice in the digital world
Working in the digital space has also influenced how Brooklyn expresses himself and connects with others. Social media has created opportunities to engage with different perspectives, discover new communities and connect with people he might never have encountered in his everyday life.
However, he recognises that digital visibility comes with its own challenges. While the internet can provide support and belonging, it can also expose LGBTQI+ people to judgement, harassment and negativity.
Through these experiences, Brooklyn has learned that being authentic does not mean sacrificing personal boundaries.
“Being visible doesn’t mean making yourself available for abuse. The LGBTQI+ community deserve to exist online without being harassed, sexualised, mocked or reduced to their sexuality,” he says.
His perspective is a reminder that LGBTQI+ visibility should be accompanied by respect and accountability, both online and offline.
A message to the next generation
For young LGBTQI+ people in Durban who may be struggling with self-acceptance or feeling pressured to come out, Brooklyn has a message rooted in patience, reassurance and self-worth.
He believes nobody should feel compelled to disclose their identity before they are ready, particularly when their safety and well-being may be at risk.
“I would tell them: you are not broken, and you are not alone. You don’t have to rush your journey or come out before you feel ready or safe. Give yourself time. Your life is bigger than the fear you’re experiencing right now.”
He adds that being unable to live openly does not make someone any less part of the LGBTQI+ community. Everyone deserves love, safety and respect, and each person should have the freedom to tell their story on their own terms.
Looking ahead, Brooklyn wants his journey to demonstrate that queer people can be ambitious, creative and successful without having to separate their identities from their aspirations.
“I don’t want my LGBTQI+ identity to be the ceiling of my story. I want it to be part of the foundation. I want to build a life that proves we can be queer, ambitious, creative, successful and unapologetically ourselves.”
And if his story encourages even one young queer person to believe that they, too, can live authentically and dream bigger, then, as Brooklyn puts it, that is a legacy worth leaving.
