Dwyane Wade recalls 'proud' moment his 12-year-old came out as transgender
Dwyane Wade's love for his kids knows no bounds.
During a Tuesday appearance on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," the retired NBA superstar opened up about his daughter Zaya's decision to come out as 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 told host Ellen DeGeneres. "We take our roles and responsibility as parents very seriously."
"When our child comes home with a question, when our child comes home with an issue, 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," Wade continued. "And that doesn't change because sexuality is now involved in it."
Ellen DeGeneres commended Wade, who has been an outspoken supporter of Zaya, saying that by unconditionally loving and supporting his child, he exemplifies what every parent should be.
"There are so many parents," DeGeneres said, who "freak out" when their children "don't go the way" they imagined. But she said Wade was so loving and supportive.
"First of all, me and my wife, Gabrielle Union, we are proud, when I say proud, we are proud parents of a child in the LGBTQ+ community," Wade, a retired NBA star, told DeGeneres in a clip posted Tuesday to the YouTube channel for her talk show. "And we're proud allies, as well. And we take our roles and responsibilities as parents very seriously."
Wade said that when his child comes home with a question, an issue or a concern, it is his and Union's jobs as parents to listen and give the best information and feedback.
"That doesn't change because sexuality is now involved in it," he said. "And so, once, Zaya, our 12-year-old, came home ... and said: 'Hey, I want to talk to you guys. You know, I think going forward I'm ready to live my truth, and I want to be referenced as 'she' and 'her.' I would love for you guys to call me Zaya.'"
Wade said it is now his and Union's jobs to "go out and get information, to reach out to every relationship that we have," adding that Union reached out to everybody on the cast of the FX show "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, you know, her best self," Wade said.
DeGeneres told him that "it must be a scary thing, because it's one thing for you to love her and your wife to love her," but that he must just want everyone to love Zaya the same way.
"Exactly," Wade responded. Wade said that after Zaya came out, he looked at her and said, "You are a leader, and 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."
After Zaya’s coming out, Wade said he told her that she is a leader and their family had the opportunity to have a voice regarding the issue.
“Right now, it’s through us, because she’s 12 years old, but eventually it will be through her,” said Wade.
In addition to discussing his daughter, Wade spoke about the tragic passing of Kobe Bryant and how he’s going to miss the example that the NBA legend set.
“He was the first superstar that really embraced different generations, really embraced us. I think from 2008 on, from the Olympics on, he really put his arms around us, as competitors and the rest of the world.”
During a Tuesday appearance on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," the retired NBA superstar opened up about his daughter Zaya's decision to come out as 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 told host Ellen DeGeneres. "We take our roles and responsibility as parents very seriously."
"When our child comes home with a question, when our child comes home with an issue, 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," Wade continued. "And that doesn't change because sexuality is now involved in it."
Ellen DeGeneres commended Wade, who has been an outspoken supporter of Zaya, saying that by unconditionally loving and supporting his child, he exemplifies what every parent should be.
"There are so many parents," DeGeneres said, who "freak out" when their children "don't go the way" they imagined. But she said Wade was so loving and supportive.
"First of all, me and my wife, Gabrielle Union, we are proud, when I say proud, we are proud parents of a child in the LGBTQ+ community," Wade, a retired NBA star, told DeGeneres in a clip posted Tuesday to the YouTube channel for her talk show. "And we're proud allies, as well. And we take our roles and responsibilities as parents very seriously."
Wade said that when his child comes home with a question, an issue or a concern, it is his and Union's jobs as parents to listen and give the best information and feedback.
"That doesn't change because sexuality is now involved in it," he said. "And so, once, Zaya, our 12-year-old, came home ... and said: 'Hey, I want to talk to you guys. You know, I think going forward I'm ready to live my truth, and I want to be referenced as 'she' and 'her.' I would love for you guys to call me Zaya.'"
Wade said it is now his and Union's jobs to "go out and get information, to reach out to every relationship that we have," adding that Union reached out to everybody on the cast of the FX show "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, you know, her best self," Wade said.
DeGeneres told him that "it must be a scary thing, because it's one thing for you to love her and your wife to love her," but that he must just want everyone to love Zaya the same way.
"Exactly," Wade responded. Wade said that after Zaya came out, he looked at her and said, "You are a leader, and 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."
After Zaya’s coming out, Wade said he told her that she is a leader and their family had the opportunity to have a voice regarding the issue.
“Right now, it’s through us, because she’s 12 years old, but eventually it will be through her,” said Wade.
In addition to discussing his daughter, Wade spoke about the tragic passing of Kobe Bryant and how he’s going to miss the example that the NBA legend set.
“He was the first superstar that really embraced different generations, really embraced us. I think from 2008 on, from the Olympics on, he really put his arms around us, as competitors and the rest of the world.”
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