Following his transgender daughter's identity reveal, the former Miami Heat player hopes his family helps inspire others on how to deal with the similar situations.
- February 16, 2020
AceShowbiz - Dwyane Wade spoke about daughter Zaya's gender identity to help other families going through similar experiences.
The daughter of the sportsman, whose stepmum is actress Gabrielle Union, was previously known as Zion, and told them she'd "love for you guys to call me Zaya," the retired basketball player told U.S. TV host Ellen DeGeneres on Tuesday, February 11, 2020.
Explaining why he decided to speak about his family's experience, the 38-year-old former professional basketball player told Entertainment Tonight, "Well, we're not the only family that deals with all the things we've spoken about."
"We're not the only family that had to deal with surrogacy, to bring our daughter (Kaavia) into the world. We're not the only family that's had to deal with gender expression, gender identity, sexuality, with their child."
Explaining he and Gabrielle "understand the position we've been put in, especially in our community," he added of life in the public eye, "This is the platform that God gave me and my family... So, we use it."
"For me, it's always about being able to adapt and being able to learn, and always being able to grow," Dwyane added. "I think coming from the inner city of Chicago early on, I was kind of closed-minded on a lot of things. And I've been with my wife, traveling the world, meeting people, going to different places, I've learned to keep my mind open, keep my eyes open, keep my heart open, keep my thoughts open."
"That's what I've been trying to do as I'm growing into the man that I've always dreamed of becoming," he said.
Zaya has since spoken about her experience of coming out, urging other transgender kids to "push through, and you be the best you and especially more recently, it's become more accepting."
Dwyane shares Zaya with his ex Siohvaughn Funches, who he married from 2002 to 2010.
