Dwyane Wade Recalls the Proud Moment His 12-Year-Old Daughter Revealed Her Gender Identity to Him

Shannon Barbour
·3 min read
Photo credit: Instagram
Photo credit: Instagram

From Cosmopolitan

  • NBA star Dwyane Wade spoke with Ellen DeGeneres about how proud he is that his 12-year-old talked to him about her gender identity and being in the LGBTQ+ community.

  • Actress Gabrielle Union posted a Twitter video of Zaya encouraging everyone to be true to themselves.

After sending Jerry from Cheer to the Oscars, Ellen DeGeneres shared another video that will fill your heart with so much love and joy. On Tuesday, Dwyane Wade made an appearance on Ellen's show and spoke about how proud he was when his 12-year-old came out and said she wanted to be called Zaya.

The interview started out with Ellen praising Dwyane and Gabrielle Union for being amazing parents and supporting their children and loving them unconditionally. Dwyane thanked Ellen before adding, "Me and my wife, Gabrielle Union, we are proud parents of a child in the LGBTQ+ community and we're proud allies as well. We take our roles and responsibility as parents very seriously."

He then explained their parenting philosophy and everyone should take note. He said:

"When our child comes home with a question, when our child comes home with an issue, when our child comes home with anything, it's our job as parents to listen to that, to give them the best information that we can, the best feedback that we can. And that doesn't change because sexuality is now involved in it."

Dwyane then recalled how Zaya came home one day and said, "Hey, so I want to talk to you guys. I think going forward I am ready to live my truth. I want to be referenced as ‘she' and ‘her.' I would love for you guys to call me Zaya."

Y'all, his response was so perfect I might have to print it out and put it on my fridge. He then told Zaya, "You are our leader. You are our leader and this is our opportunity to allow you to be a voice."

And this afternoon, Gabrielle posted a Twitter video of Zaya encouraging everyone to be themselves. She said, "Be true and don't really care about the stereotypical way of being you is." When Dwyane asked her if people should still try to be their most authentic selves when others bully or hurt them, Zaya said, "Yeah, I know it can get tough. But I think you push through and you be the best you...It's worth it."

Gabrielle captioned the video, "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."

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