Dwyane Wade has said he is proud about 12-year-old child’s gender identity after he bravely came out as transgender.
Speaking during a recent interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, the 38-year-old former basketballer recalled the ‘proud’ moment Zaya, born Zion, approached him and his wife Gabrielle Union to open up about his gender identity.
“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. We take our roles and responsibilities as parents very seriously. 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.”
He also revealed that he and his wife had to educate themselves on the LGBTQ+ community in other to help Zaya ‘be her best self’.
The ex Miami Heat player revealed: ‘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.’
Dwyane went on to explain how he and Gabrielle take their ‘responsibilities’ as parents ‘very seriously’.
While giving her support to Zion’s new identity, Gabrielle Union shared a video of the young transgender speaking to his father about being true to oneself.
Gabrielle wrote: “Meet Zaya. She’s compassionate, loving, whip smart and we are so proud of her. It’s Ok to listen to, love & respect your children exactly as they are. Love and light good people.”
Dwyane Wade is father to four children, Zaire, 18, Zaya, 12 and Xavier, six from a former relationship, and one-year-old daughter Kaavia, whom he shares with wife Gabrielle.
