“YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A CERTAIN WAY IN ORDER TO HAVE A PLACE ON THIS EARTH” – MASA TOM
Masawandile Tom is a young trans content creator and chartered accountant driving inclusivity in South Africa by sharing her authentic experiences of living openly While South Africa was the first country to adopt a constitution that explicitly prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation, many trans people have or will experience some sort of discrimination in their lifetime. Before Masa came out openly as a trans woman, she was operating at what she believes was 65% of her potential. “There were fleeting moments where I would get a peek of what my life could look like if I was fully, you know myself. It felt like I was postponing living my truth. But one day, I got to the point where I was ready to be honest about who I was and everything just fell into place.” As a trans women, Masa finds power in the pronouns she identifies with. “Having someone ask me my pronouns and them respecting them is so affirming. It’s a signal of deep respect, a form of love language, a signa