Dwyane Wade Expresses His Support For Transgender Daughter, Zaya, As He Recalls the Moment His 12-Year-Old Came Out

Dwyane Wade opened up on Tuesday’s episode of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” about his daughter revealing to he and his wife that she was indeed transgender.

“Me and my wife, my wife Gabrielle Union…we are proud parents of a child in the LGBTQ+ community, and we’re proud allies as well,” he revealed to host Ellen DeGeneres. “We take our roles and responsibility as parents very seriously.”

The 38-year-old also explained how he reacted to her announcement.

“I looked at her and said, ‘You are our leader. You are our leader, and this is 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.” The former Miami Heat star went on to add, “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.”

Wade and Union have now begun reaching out to others within the LGBTQ+ community in order to educate themselves and be the best parents that they can be for young Zaya, formerly known as Zion, as she continues on her journey.

“Now it’s our job to one, go out and get information, to reach out to every relationship that we have. My wife reached out to everybody on the cast of Pose. We’re just trying to figure out as much information as we can to make sure that we give our child the best opportunity to be her best self.”