Former NBA star Dwyane Wade recalls ‘proud’ moment his daughter came out as transgender
Wade and his wife Gabrielle Union have been vocal supporters of the LGBTQ community
By Steve Brown
Words: Steve Brown
Gabrielle Union’s husband Dwyane Wade says he is ‘proud’ of his transgender daughter.
The former NBA star is a father to four children – Zaire, Zaya and Xavier – from a previous relationship and Kaavia with his wife Gabrielle.
And while speaking to Ellen DeGeneres, the athlete opened up about the first time Zaya revealed she was transitioning.
He said: “First of all, me and my wife Gabrielle, we are proud parents of a child in the LGBTQ community and we are proud allies as well.
“Once Zaya, our 12-year-old, came home… first, Zion. I don’t know if everyone knows, originally named Zion.
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“Zion, born as a boy, came home and said, ‘Hey, so I want to talk to you guys. I think going forward, I’m ready to live my truth. And I want to be referenced as she and her. I’d love for you guys to call me Zaya’.”
After Zaya revealed she is transgender, the couple – who have been vocal supporters of the LGBTQ community – reached out to the cast of Pose to ‘try and figure out’ how to move forward to help Zaya be ‘her best self’.
Wade continued: “Once Zion came home and said, ‘call me Zaya’ and was ready to take on this, I looked at her and said, ‘You are a leader. It’s our opportunity to allow you to be a voice’.
“Right now it’s through us, because she’s 12 years old, but eventually it will be through her.
“So when our child comes home with a question, our child comes home with an issue, our child comes home with anything, it’s our job as parents to listen to that, to give them the best information we can, to give the best feedback we can.
“And that doesn’t change because sexuality is now involved in it.”