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Gabrielle Union’s husband Dwyane Wade has stated he is ‘proud’ of his daughter Zaya who bravely came out as transgender.
The retired NBA star 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.
Dwyane, 38, and Gabrielle, 47, have openly supported Zaya’s journey as a young transgender person, attending Pride and slamming nasty social media trolls on her behalf.
In a new interview with Ellen DeGeneres, Dwyane has opened up about the first time Zaya, born Zion, revealed she was transitioning.
‘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,’ Dwyane explained to Ellen.
‘Once Zaya, our 12-year-old, came home… first, Zion. I don’t know if everyone knows, originally named Zion. 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”,’ he continued.
Dwyane reveals that Being Mary Jane actress Gabrielle used her industry contacts to reach out to the cast of Pose to ‘try and figure out’ how to move forward and gather all the information they could 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’.
‘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,’ he stated. ‘And that doesn’t change because sexuality is now involved in it.’
In December, Zaya was subjected to nasty comments from social media users after she wore a crop top and fake nails. Dwyane defended his second-born child and tweeted: ‘As a parent my only goal is that my kids feel that i see them , love them and support them.
Gabrielle Union’s husband Dwyane Wade recalls ‘proud’ moment daughter Zaya came out as transgender - Newsfeeds.media
