Dwyane Wade and his daughter Zaya have teamed up to create a safe space for young LGBTQ+ people of color.
On Thursday, Dwyane and Zaya announced the launch of Translatable through an Instagram Reel. This online community is designed to be a safe space for LGBTQ+ youth of color to express themselves creatively and serves as an educational resource for parents and families.
On the same night of the reveal, Dwyane was honored with the Elevate Prize Catalyst Award. The 13-time All-Star received the award in recognition of his advocacy for the transgender community. Dwyane, who has declined several previous honors, stated that this new accolade stands out from his basketball accomplishments.
“The question was presented to her as, ‘If you have one thing that you want to see change in this community, what would it be?’,” Dwyane recalled. “And for her, it goes right to parents. It goes right to the adults. It goes right to us. It’s not the kids. It’s us. And so she wanted to create a space that felt safe for parents and their kids. That’s what Translatable is, and it’s her baby.”
Dwyane explained that his support for trans rights stems from being a parent and shared how much he values the conversations he has with Zaya at home. Elevate Prize Foundation CEO Carolina Garcìa Jayaram noted she was impressed by Dwyane’s dedication as a parent and praised his decision to launch Translatable in Florida, “a place where many might feel a sense of exclusion.”
“We understand that in this state, not everyone thinks the way some others think,” he added. “Like most things in life, once you get to know them, you have more ability to be understanding. And so if you don’t want to know them, then you stay ignorant in a sense.”
In 2020, Zaya publicly came out as transgender when she was 12 years old, with her family being her biggest supporters. Shortly after, in response to anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in the state, the Wades moved from Florida to California. Since coming out, Zaya has become dedicated to being a voice for the LGBTQ+ community and a role model for youth battling with acceptance of their gender identity.
