_"Thanks to my mum's support, I embraced my true self."

Dylan Brooks joined Knight Frank in 2020 as a Senior Negotiator and has since been promoted to Associate, Sales Manager at the Belsize Park office. He lives in London with his partner of five years, Oli, and their dog, Dax.

James Lamb June 12, 2024

Growing Up Down Under

Dylan's journey began in Perth, Australia, where he grew up in a traditional Roman Catholic family. “Perth is the second most isolated city in the world, so moving to London opened up my eyes,” he reflects. At age 12, Dylan began to feel different from other boys but had no one to talk to about his feelings. Surrounded by examples of heterosexual relationships, he struggled with his identity, feeling like something was wrong with him.

“I remember feeling complete disgust within myself,” he recalls.

Coming Out

By 16, the internal struggle was impacting Dylan's grades along with his life as a professional high school volleyball player representing Western Australia. The burden became too much, and he confided in his favourite teacher, who encouraged him to speak to his parents.

He decided to tell his mum first. “I spoke to her as if I’d done something wrong, but my mum was very encouraging and supportive. She helped me plan who to tell and when.”

Thanks to his mum's support, Dylan embraced his true self as a teenager, but the coming-out process continued into his professional life.

Bringing Your Authentic Self to Work

Dylan describes coming out as a process that requires ongoing effort and comfort with sharing personal details. At his previous job at KFH in London, he first openly discussed being gay with co-workers but didn’t disclose this immediately, he had to become comfortable in that environment first. Once he had, he wasn’t going back so when he joined Knight Frank, he made a conscious effort to be open and involved from the start. He sought out Knight Out, the firm’s LGBTQ+ network, and now co-chairs it alongside Jason Mansfield. Despite being confident and proud, Dylan remains cautious about disclosing his sexuality at work, as reactions can vary.

“Even now, when I mention my partner Oli to a client, I watch for their reaction. I’m confident, but there’s always a possibility of a negative response.”

PRIDE and Knight Frank

Dylan believes Knight Out is making a positive impact on the LGBTQ+ community within Knight Frank but acknowledges the firm is still early in its journey towards full inclusivity.

Dylan’s story is a testament to the importance of honesty, self-acceptance, and the ongoing effort to create inclusive workplaces. His journey from Perth to London, and from self-doubt to self-acceptance, inspires others to embrace their true selves.