Basketball star Dwyane Wade says it was ‘his job’ to educate himself after daughter came out as trans
Dwyane Wade spoke about his transgender daughter in an interview with Ellen DeGeneres
Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade has spoken about his transgender daughter in an interview with Ellen DeGeneres.
The NBA player, who has four children with his wife Gabrielle Union, spoke to Ellen DeGeneres about his 12-year-old Zaya coming out as trans.
Dwyane Wade says it was ‘his job’ to educate himself.
In an an interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, he said: “Me and my wife Gabrielle, we are proud parents of a child in the LGBT+ 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 or an issue, it’s our job as parents to listen and give them the best information we can and the best feedback we can.
“That doesn’t change because sexuality is now involved in it. So when Zaya, our 12-year-old, 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/her. I’d love for you guys to call me Zaya.’
“So it was our job to go out and get information, to reach out to every relationship we have. My wife reached out to everybody on the cast of Pose. We just tried to figure out as much information as we can, to make sure we give our child the best opportunity to be her best self.”
Dwyane Wade spoke about his transgender daughter in an interview with Ellen DeGeneres
He added of her daughter: “Once [she] came home and said, ‘Call me Zaya and I’m 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.”
Basketball star claps back at transphobic trolls.
Last year, before confirming his daughter is trans, Wade clapped back at trolls after facing attacks over a photo of Zaya dressed in a crop top.
One troll wrote “Why are they encouraging this at such a young age,” wrote one troll, while another asked: “I’m trying to figure out why black women and their men are allowing that young man to dress like a girl.”
The basketball star responded: “I’ve seen some post-thanksgiving hate on social about my family photo.
“Stupidity is apart of this world we live in — so I get it. But here’s the thing — I’ve been chosen to lead my family not y’all. So we will continue to be us and support each other with pride, love and a smile!”
