Gay basketball legend Jason Collins thinks Dwyane Wade’s trans daughter Zaya is ‘inspiring’
Jason Collins heaped praise on Dwyane Wade, his wife Gabrielle Union and their daughter Zaya. (Instagram/Dwyane Wade/Getty)
Jason Collins spoke of his pride in seeing Dwyane Wade and his wife Gabrielle Union embrace their 12-year-old trans daughter Zaya Wade.
Collins – the first, and to date only NBA player to come out as gay – said it was “inspiring” to see Zaya’s family rally around her as she revealed her truth to the world.
“Just so proud of them,” he told Yahoo Sports on Friday, February 14.
The retired star was also thrilled to see that Zaya’s brother, Zaire Wade, had his sister’s back.
To not only feel love from your parents but then also from your sibling as well is powerful.
When Jason came out as gay in a 2013 issue of Sports Illustrated, he spoke about how his twin Jarron had been “full of brotherly love”.
He told Yahoo: “That’s something that I benefited from, having my brother Jarron [have] my back. And to see Zaire have his sister’s back is incredible.”
When he announced that Zaya had come out as trans, Dwyane revealed that his wife Gabrielle Union (Zaya’s step-mother) had reached out to the cast of Pose to help the family “figure out as much information as we can, to make sure we give our child the best opportunity to be her best self”.
Jason revealed that he has also been in contact with Gabrielle “for a few months now” about “tons of stuff”.
Throughout their ongoing conversation Jason has seen just how unconditional the Wade family’s love for Zaya is, and believed that they can leverage their fame to improve the lives of other trans kids.
“I already told Gabby, they need to write a parenting book,” he said. “Because they will help so many families across the world.”
Dwyane Wade said he and wife Gabrielle Union were ‘proud parents’ of their trans child, Zaya.
Dwyane Wade announced that his Zaya had come out as trans on the February 11 episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
He told the comedian: “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.”
A day later, Zaya showed wisdom beyond her 12 years while discussing her transition on Twitter.
Her step-mother Gabrielle Union shared a video of Zaya questioning: “What’s the point in being on this Earth if you’re going to try to be someone you’re not?
“It’s like you’re not even living as yourself, which is the dumbest concept to me… Just be true and don’t really care what the stereotypical way of being is.”
