Former NBA player Dwyane Wade shared that his 12-year-old middle child will now go by the name of Zaya and will use feminine pronouns. The star shared the news during an interview on The Ellen Degeneres Show while discussing parenting a child who is a part of the LGBTQ+ community.
Image: Dwyane Wade IG
Dwayne shared in part; “Me and my wife Gabrielle Union are proud parents of a child in the LGBTQ+ community. And we are proud allies as well. We take our roles and our responsibility as parents very seriously. So when our child comes home with a question, when a child comes home with an issue, when a child comes home with anything, it’s our job as parents to listen to that, to give them the best information that we can, to give them the best feedback that we can — and that doesn’t change because sexuality is now involved in it.”
He continued; “So once Zaya, our 12-year-old, came home — first Zion, I don’t know if everyone knows, originally named Zion, born as a boy — came home and said, ‘Hey, I want to talk to you guys. I think going forward I’m ready to live my truth. I want to be referenced as she and her, I would love for you guys to call me Zaya.”
He ended off sharing; “Once Zaya came home and said, ‘I want you to call me Zaya and I’m ready to take on this,’ I looked at her and said, ‘You are a 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.”
Dwyane Wade shares that his 12-year old will go by Zaya. Here’s a look at what he had to say.
