<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/dwyane-wade" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dwyane Wade</a> is one celebrity of many who happens to have a trans-identifying child. While the former NBA star’s current wife, actress Gabrielle Union, is supportive of the child’s shifting names and pronouns, the Wade family is now meeting resistance from someone unexpected: the child’s mother.
Following his retirement from professional sports, Wade has become a social activist with the specific cause of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/transgender" target="_blank" rel="noopener">trans rights</a>. He adamantly <a href="https://www.today.com/popculture/popculture/dwyane-wade-court-petition-for-transgender-daughter-zaya-name-change-rcna45010" target="_blank" rel="noopener">defended</a> Zaya’s right to “be her best self.” But which parent will prevail in this fight?
For some background: Wade married his high school girlfriend Siohvaughn Funches-Wade in 2002 and they went on to have two children, Zaire and Zion (who is currently going by Zaya). The couple broke up in 2007 and officially divorced in 2010 following a bitter court battle. Wade was granted sole custody of his two children in 2011. 
The former NBA star began dating Union in 2008. They briefly broke up in 2013, at which point Wade impregnated his friend Aja Metoyer, who gave birth to son Xavier. Wade and Union got back together and married the following year. They had daughter Kaavia via surrogate in 2018 following several miscarriages. 
In 2011, Wade was also awarded full custody of his nephew, Dahveon.
The Wades’ social activism campaign began during a February 2020 guest appearance on &#8220;The Ellen DeGeneres Show,&#8221; which is when the pro basketball player announced that one of his children identified as transgender.
“We are proud, when I say proud, we are proud parents of a child in the LGBTQ+ community, and we are proud allies, as well,” Wade told DeGeneres.
&#8220;Our (then) 12-year-old came home &#8230; and said, ‘Hey, I want to talk to you guys. I think going forward I&#8217;m ready to live my truth and I want to be referenced as she and her and I would love for you guys to call me Zaya,’&#8221; he continued.
&#8220;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.&#8221;
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Dwyane Wade’s Candid Talk About Supporting His 12-Year-Old&#039;s Gender Identity" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AG9-Q6UabfQ?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Host Ellen DeGeneres praised Wade for being a “loving and supportive” father to Zaya as her talk show audience erupted in applause.
The following month, Wade kept publicizing what was going on with his family by “reintroducing” his child to the world during the Better Brothers LA Truth Awards.
“Everyone allow her to re-introduce herself her name is Zaya Wade!” Wade captioned a photo of Zaya wearing a bright green tuxedo jacket and pink sash.
“Last night was Zaya’s first red carpet and we couldn’t have been prouder of how she handled the questions that were asked of her,” the 23-time NBA All-Star wrote. “She has emerged as one of the young faces and voices for the LGBTQ+ community. #truthawards.”
At the event, Wade explained the process of affirming Zaya following the child expressing a new preferred gender.
“When our 8-year-old daughter, Zaya Wade, came home and said she had something to tell us, when she came out to us, as a family, we admitted that weren’t as educated about the LGBTQ+ plus community as we should have been,” Wade <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dwyane-wade-hails-12-year-old-trans-son-as-lgbtq-leader-in-instagram-post-allow-her-to-re-introduce-herself" target="_blank" rel="noopener">explained</a>.
The former NBA player said he and Union turned to a “male couple” to help them “navigate the right language to use, the questions to ask, and what to listen for” going forward.
“They also reminded us to make sure Zaya knew her community and felt the love and support inside and outside from home,” Wade continued. 
“From working closely with Zaya to design her room in our homes to make sure that her most authentic self was represented and that her bedroom felt like her sanctuary. Now, that may seem small, but taking the time to make sure Zaya felt seen and heard as she created her own space for us was key. It was key to Zaya’s comfort and her confidence.”
It wasn’t long before Wade went from advocating for his own child to speaking out against laws prohibiting trans-affirming surgeries for minors. 
He told CNN host Poppy Harlow that he disagrees with legislation that would make “gender-affirming” procedures on children illegal. He also disagreed with athletes being required to compete in categories that correspond with their biological sex.
“To me, it’s a joke. This is our life,” Wade said in June. “We live this. When you’re out there making rules, if you’re not experiencing this, if you’re not living this, and you’re just out there signing away and making laws, that’s not right. That’s a joke.” 
“Come and live a day in my world with my daughter. Come and see how it is to walk through this world as her,” he continued. “I just think we’re losing the human side of us.” 
“As blessed as it is for my daughter to have parents who can support her, I’m still afraid every moment she leaves the house,” Wade said. “And not just because of gun violence, but because of the way people perceive her in this world.”
The basketball pro also questioned why we’re not “educating our kids” in schools on trans issues. “You can’t close the book and what someone wants, and how they feel they are,” Wade said. “I just don’t understand.”
Now the most recent drama in the former Olympic competitor’s life involves his ex-wife, Zaya’s mother, trying to slow down her child’s transition process through legal proceedings.
Funches-Wade filed court documents to block Zaya from legally changing their name and gender before the age of 18, The Daily Wire originally <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nba-greats-ex-begs-court-to-block-their-trans-kids-gender-change-says-dad-positioned-to-profit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
“I have concerns that (Dwyane) may be pressuring our child to move forward with the name and gender change in order to capitalize on the financial opportunities that he has received from companies,” the legal filing says. 
“(Dwyane) told me that he intended to make our child very famous due to the name and gender issue and also informed me that there would be endorsements/contracts associated therewith,” it went on.
“I am concerned that our child is being commercialized at a young age and also of the uncontrollable consequences of media exposure i.e. cyberbullying, statements and/or pictures taken out of context of our child, and the unwanted spotlight focused on our child.”
Wade disagrees with those allegations and issued a lengthy statement on Instagram <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dwyane-wade-responds-to-ex-wife-objecting-to-childs-gender-change-this-isnt-a-game" target="_blank" rel="noopener">defending</a> his position.
“Since this must be the new way of parenting, I guess I have to address these allegations here, which is a damn shame,” Wade wrote in the post. “While I’m on a life-changing trip in our motherland, Africa, I’ve received a social media post about me forcing our 15 year old child to be someone she’s not and to do something against her will. These are serious and harmful allegations that have hurt our children.”
“While none of us are surprised by Siohvaughn’s attempt to fight Zaya’s identity and her unwavering attempt to drag my name through the mud, I’m very disappointed that she continuously find ways of centering herself and HER needs, without regard to her children,” he continued. 
The post went on to allege that Funches-Wade wasn’t involved in Zaya’s life at all, and that she doesn’t know the situation.
“Zaya is not that same 3 year child anymore and she’s screaming that to the world but most importantly to her Mother! No one in our house would ever force Zaya or any of our children to do anything against their will, much less force an identity on them. This isn’t a game for my family and definitely not for Zaya. This is her life.”
Wade and Zaya’s biological mother battling it out in court is reminiscent of other high-profile cases of parents disagreeing on whether or not to medically transition their children who identify as transgender and if so, to what extent.
The major difference here is Wade has a huge platform and an enormous amount of capital behind him. The outcome of this legal battle is worth watching.

US-ENTERTAINMENT-DISNEY

Dwyane Wade, Trans Activist: Former NBA Star Fights Ex-Wife On Gender Changes For Their Child

Dwyane Wade

Readers Pass

Social Issues

Transgender

U.S.

Former NBA player <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/dwyane-wade">Dwyane Wade</a> just responded to his ex-wife Siohvaughn Funches-Wade&#8217;s claims that he&#8217;s trying to make money off their <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/transgender">transgender</a>-identifying child Zaya’s “name and gender change.”
The 40-year-old basketball pro took to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CkfgtPoo5QJ/?hl=en">Instagram</a> on Thursday to defend his parenting.
&#8220;Since this must be the new way of parenting, I guess I have to address these allegations here, which is a damn shame,&#8221; Wade wrote in the post. &#8220;While I’m on a life-changing trip in our motherland, Africa, I’ve received a social media post about me forcing our 15 year old child to be someone she’s not and to do something against her will. These are serious and harmful allegations that have hurt our children.&#8221;
&#8220;While none of us are surprised by Siohvaughn’s attempt to fight Zaya’s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/social-issues">identity</a> and her unwavering attempt to drag my name through the mud, I’m very disappointed that she continuously find ways of centering herself and HER needs, without regard to her children,&#8221; he continued. 
&#8220;This report came out while Zaya was in class. This is a kid who has maintained a 4.0 GPA in honors classes while navigating all this unsolicited and harmful attention and debates about her gender and sexuality from those who are committed to not listening to her, much less even knowing her.&#8221;
&#8220;I&#8217;ve given her the opportunity to reach out to Zaya’s teachers, doctors and therapist over the years and even meet her friends, so she could get her own understanding of our child’s needs for her LIFE,&#8221; Wade shared in his statement. &#8220;She won’t do it! She has not been to a school, recital, graduation, school dance, play date, practice, parent teacher conference etc and Zaya has given her every opportunity to try to get to know her. She won’t do it.&#8221;
He later said, &#8220;Zaya is not that same 3 year child anymore and she’s screaming that to the world but most importantly to her Mother! No one in our house would ever force Zaya or any of our children to do anything against their will, much less force an identity on them. This isn’t a game for my family and definitely not for Zaya. This is her life.&#8221;
Funches-Wade and Wade were married from 2002 to 2010 and are the parents of 20-year-old son Zaire Wade and Zaya. The former NBA star also has an 8-year-old son Xavier with former partner Aja Metoyer and a 3-year-old daughter Kaavia with his current wife, actress Gabrielle Union. 
Wade’s response comes after Funches-Wade filed court documents to block Zaya from legally changing their name and gender before the age of 18.
“I have concerns that (Dwyane) may be pressuring our child to move forward with the name and gender change in order to capitalize on the financial opportunities that he has received from companies,” the legal filing says, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nba-greats-ex-begs-court-to-block-their-trans-kids-gender-change-says-dad-positioned-to-profit">reported</a>.
“(Dwyane) told me that he intended to make our child very famous due to the name and gender issue and also informed me that there would be endorsements/contracts associated therewith,” Wade&#8217;s ex-wife also shared in the court documents. 
“I am concerned that our child is being commercialized at a young age and also of the uncontrollable consequences of media exposure i.e. cyberbullying, statements and/or pictures taken out of context of our child, and the unwanted spotlight focused on our child.”
Zaya, a biological male, came out as transgender in 2020, and Dwyane has been a considerable advocate ever since. He previously told People magazine that Zaya’s transition is an inspiration.
“When I look at Zaya, it gives me hope because I’m like, okay, we raised [our kids] to be authentic,” he said.

Gucci Love Parade – Arrivals

Dwyane Wade Responds To Ex-Wife Objecting To Child’s Gender Change: ‘This Isn’t A Game’

Dwyane Wade Responds To Ex-Wife Objecting To Child's Gender Change

Celebrities

Retired NBA star <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/dwyane-wade">Dwyane Wade</a> has filed a petition to legally change the name and gender of his 15-year-old son, Zion, who goes by Zaya.
Wade and his wife, actress Gabrielle Union, have said publicly since Zaya was 12 years old that the child is transgender and actually a girl. According to Wade, the child &#8220;came out&#8221; at age eight.
In a Los Angeles Superior Court petition filed Thursday, Wade asked for Zaya&#8217;s gender to be changed to female and that the teen&#8217;s name now legally be Zaya Malachi Airamis Wade.
The petition <a href="https://spectrumnews1.com/ca/la-west/entertainment/2022/08/18/dwyane-wade-petitions-court-to-permit-daughter-s-name-change">says</a> that Wade has full authority to make decisions for his child, and that the teen&#8217;s mother, Wade&#8217;s ex-wife Siohvaughn Funches, has been notified of his actions.
Wade in 2020 posted photos of his then-12-year-old son to his Instagram account, praising the child as an LGBTQ+ leader while using female pronouns. “Everyone allow her to re-introduce herself her name is Zaya Wade!” Wade <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dwyane-wade-hails-12-year-old-trans-son-as-lgbtq-leader-in-instagram-post-allow-her-to-re-introduce-herself">captioned</a> a photo of the young child, who was wearing a bright green tuxedo jacket and pink sash.
“Last night was Zaya’s first red carpet and we couldn’t have been prouder of how she handled the questions that were asked of her,” the former Miami Heat guard wrote. “She has emerged as one of the young faces and voices for the LGBTQ+ community. <a class=" xil3i" href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/truthawards/">#truthawards</a>.”
While at an awards show where Zaya was honored, Wade gushed to the audience that the child &#8220;came out&#8221; to him at age eight. “When our 8-year-old daughter, Zaya Wade, came home and said she had something to tell us, when she came out to us, as a family, we admitted that we weren’t as educated about the LGBTQ+ plus community as we should have been,” he said.
Wade and Union apparently turned to a &#8220;male couple” to help them “navigate the right language to use, the questions to ask, and what to listen for,” with regard to the young child&#8217;s gender, the athlete said.
“They also reminded us to make sure Zaya knew her community and felt the love and support inside and outside from home,” Wade continued. “From working closely with Zaya to design her room in our homes to make sure that her most authentic self was represented and that her bedroom felt like her sanctuary. Now, that may seem small, but taking the time to make sure Zaya felt seen and heard as she created her own space for us was key. It was key to Zaya’s comfort and her confidence.”
In December, Wade similarly spoke about his biologically male child becoming who “she” is.
“I watched my son, from day one, become into who she now eventually come into,” he <a href="https://people.com/parents/dwyane-wade-watched-child-become-who-she-now-eventually-is/">told</a> the “All the Smoke” podcast.
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After Wade noticed Zaya was not on the “boy vibe” that his other son was on, he said he questioned if the boy was gay and how he would feel about that. Apparently, the couple realized Zaya was really a girl.
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Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dwyane-wade-hails-12-year-old-trans-son-as-lgbtq-leader-in-instagram-post-allow-her-to-re-introduce-herself">Dwyane Wade Hails 12-Year-Old ‘Trans’ Son As LGBTQ Leader In Instagram Post: ‘Allow Her To Re-Introduce Herself’</a>

Better Brothers Los Angeles’ 6th Annual Truth Awards

NBA Star Dwyane Wade Files Petition To Legally Change Child’s Gender, Name

Dwyane Wade Files Petition To Legally Change Son’s Gender, Name

Former NBA star <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/dwayne-wade">Dwayne Wade</a> told CNN that he fears for his <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/transgender">transgender</a> child, Zaya, and disagrees with legislation that would make “gender-affirming” procedures on children illegal.
Wade, who is married to actress Gabrielle Union, made the comments during the <a href="https://time.com/6185163/dwyane-wade-transgender-daughter-time100-summit/">TIME100 Summit</a> on Tuesday. He also told CNN host Poppy Harlow that he disagrees with athletes being required to compete in categories that correspond with their biological sex and laws banning &#8220;gender-affirming medical care,&#8221; according to Time. 
“To me, it’s a joke. This is our life. We live this. When you’re out there making rules, if you’re not experiencing this, if you’re not living this, and you’re just out there signing away and making laws, that’s not right. That’s a joke,” the 40-year-old father of four said. “Come and live a day in my world with my daughter. Come and see how it is to walk through this world as her.”
“I just think we’re losing the human side of us,” Wade said. 
“As blessed as it is for my daughter to have parents who can support her, I’m still afraid every moment she leaves the house,” Wade continued. “And not just because of gun violence, but because of the way people perceive her in this world.”
He questioned why we’re not “educating our kids” in schools on trans issues. “You can’t close the book and what someone wants, and how they feel they are,” he said. “I just don’t understand.”
Wade and Union’s child came out as transgender at the age of 12 in 2020, The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dwyane-wade-hails-12-year-old-trans-son-as-lgbtq-leader-in-instagram-post-allow-her-to-re-introduce-herself">reported</a>.  
“When our 8-year-old daughter, Zaya Wade, came home and said she had something to tell us, when she came out to us, as a family, we admitted that we weren’t as educated about the LGBTQ+ community as we should have been,” Wade said during a speech at the Better Brothers LA’s Truth Awards that year.
The NBA star continued, explaining how he and Union turned to a “male couple” to help them “navigate the right language to use, the questions to ask, and what to listen for,” on the matter.
“They also reminded us to make sure Zaya knew her community and felt the love and support inside and outside from home,” Wade continued. 
“From working closely with Zaya to design her room in our homes to make sure that her most authentic self was represented and that her bedroom felt like her sanctuary. Now, that may seem small, but taking the time to make sure Zaya felt seen and heard as she created her own space for us was key. It was key to Zaya’s comfort and her confidence,&#8221; he said.

TIME100 Summit 2022

Dwyane Wade Says He Fears For Transgender Child’s Safety ‘Every Moment,’ Slams Laws Banning ‘Gender-Affirming’ Procedures For Kids

Dwyane Wade Says He Fears For Transgender Child's Safety 'Every Moment,' Slams Laws Banning 'Gender-Affirming' Procedures For Kids

Former NBA star Dwyane Wade voiced support for Nick Cannon on Wednesday afternoon after Cannon was terminated by ViacomCBS for making remarks that were widely deemed as anti-Semitic.
Wade tweeted, &#8220;@NickCannon We are with you✊🏿 Keep leading!&#8221;
Seattle-based conservative radio host Jason Rantz tweeted out a screenshot of Wade&#8217;s tweet after Wade deleted the tweet a couple of hours after posting it.
&#8220;After Nick Cannon was fired for his disturbing anti-Semitic vitriol, Dwayne Wade tweeted his support&#8230; but then deleted the tweet,&#8221; Rantz said. &#8220;I screenshot it below. What leadership was @DwyaneWade supporting?&#8221;
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After Nick Cannon was fired for his disturbing anti-Semitic vitriol, Dwayne Wade tweeted his support&#8230; but then deleted the tweet. I screenshot it below. What leadership was <a href="https://twitter.com/DwyaneWade?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DwyaneWade</a> supporting? <a href="https://t.co/c0bFsILkQk">pic.twitter.com/c0bFsILkQk</a>
&mdash; (((Jason Rantz))) on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) <a href="https://twitter.com/jasonrantz/status/1283493628518621185?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
ViacomCBS <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/viacomcbs-terminates-nick-cannon-over-anti-semitic-remarks-does-not-mention-anti-white-remarks">announced</a> in a statement yesterday that it had terminated its relationship with Cannon:
<blockquote>ViacomCBS condemns bigotry of any kind and we categorically denounce all forms of anti-Semitism.
We have spoken with Nick Cannon about an episode of his podcast “Cannon’s Class” on YouTube, which promoted hateful speech and spread anti-Semitic conspiracy theories.
While we support ongoing education and dialogue in the fight against bigotry, we are deeply troubled that Nick has failed to acknowledge or apologize for perpetuating anti-Semitism, and we are terminating our relationship with him.
We are committed to doing better in our response to incidents of anti-Semitism, racism, and bigotry. ViacomCBS will have further announcements on our efforts to combat hate of all kinds.</blockquote>
Page Six <a href="https://pagesix.com/2020/07/14/nick-cannon-responds-to-backlash-following-anti-semitic-comments/">reported</a> that Cannon promoted fringe anti-Semitic conspiracy theories about Jewish people, including “the Rothschilds, centralized banking, the 13 families, the bloodlines that control everything even outside of America.”
The statement from ViacomCBS did not directly address anti-white remarks that Cannon made in the same podcast.
“When you have a person that has the lack of pigment, the lack of melanin, that they know that they will be annihilated,” Cannon <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-nick-cannon-white-people-are-a-little-less-closer-to-animals-true-savages">said</a>. “So, therefore, however they got the power, they have the lack of compassion. Melanin comes with compassion, melanin comes with soul. We call it soul. Soul brothers and sisters. That’s the melanin that connects us. So the people that don’t have it, and I’m going to say this carefully, are a little less.”
“When they didn’t have the power of the sun, the sun then started to deteriorate them, so then they’re acting out of fear, they’re acting out of low self-esteem, they’re acting out of a deficiency,” Cannon continued. “So, therefore, the only way that they can act is evil. They have to rob, steal, rape, kill … in order to survive.”
“They had to be savages, they had to be barbaric, because they’re in these Nordic mountains, they’re in these rough … environments, so they’re acting as animals,” Cannon added. “So they’re the ones that are actually closer to animals; they’re the ones that are actually the true savages.”
Wade later claimed in a tweet that he was not expressing support or condoning Cannon&#8217;s remarks.
&#8220;I want to clarify my now deleted tweet,&#8221; Wade tweeted. &#8220;I was not supporting or condoning what Nick Cannon specifically said, but I had expressed my support of him owning the content and brand he helped create.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
I want to clarify my now deleted tweet. I was not supporting or condoning what Nick Cannon specifically said, but I had expressed my support of him owning the content and brand he helped create 🙏🏾
&mdash; DWade (@DwyaneWade) <a href="https://twitter.com/DwyaneWade/status/1283499589182517248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Cleveland Cavaliers v Miami Heat

Dwyane Wade Tells Nick Cannon To ‘Keep Leading’ After Cannon Fired For Racist Remarks; Wade Later Tries To ‘Clarify’

Nick Cannon

On Sunday, former NBA player Dwyane Wade posted photos of his 12-year-old son, whom he says is a transgender girl, to his Instagram account, praising the child as an LGBTQ+ leader while using female pronouns.
&#8220;Everyone allow her to re-introduce herself her name is Zaya Wade!&#8221; Wade captioned a photo of young Zaya Wade wearing a bright green tuxedo jacket and pink sash.
The child recently changed his name from Zion to Zaya to coordinate with the gender &#8220;transition.&#8221;
&#8220;Last night was Zaya’s first red carpet and we couldn’t have been prouder of how she handled the questions that were asked of her,&#8221; the former Miami Heat guard wrote. &#8220;She has emerged as one of the young faces and voices for the LGBTQ+ community. <a class=" xil3i" href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/truthawards/">#truthawards</a>.&#8221;
Wade, his wife, actress Gabrielle Union, and Zaya attended the Better Brothers LA&#8217;s Truth Awards together on Saturday night. According to <a href="https://www.eonline.com/news/1129145/dwyane-wade-s-daughter-walks-first-red-carpet-as-zaya-wade">E! News</a>, the award ceremony &#8220;highlights the accomplishments of the Black LGBTQ+ community and its allies.&#8221;
According to the outlet, the three appeared on stage together &#8220;to honor a friend,&#8221; and Wade spoke about Zaya.
&#8220;When our 8-year-old daughter, Zaya Wade, came home and said she had something to tell us, when she came out to us, as a family, we admitted that weren&#8217;t as educated about the LGBTQ+ plus community as we should have been,&#8221; Wade told the audience.
The athlete reportedly said that he and Union turned to a &#8220;male couple&#8221; to help them &#8220;navigate the right language to use, the questions to ask, and what to listen for,&#8221; with regard to the young boy&#8217;s gender.
&#8220;They also reminded us to make sure Zaya knew her community and felt the love and support inside and outside from home,&#8221; Wade continued. &#8220;From working closely with Zaya to design her room in our homes to make sure that her most authentic self was represented and that her bedroom felt like her sanctuary. Now, that may seem small, but taking the time to make sure Zaya felt seen and heard as she created her own space for us was key. It was key to Zaya&#8217;s comfort and her confidence.&#8221;
In December, Wade similarly spoke about his son becoming who &#8220;she&#8221; is.
“I watched my son, from day one, become into who she now eventually come into,” he <a href="https://people.com/parents/dwyane-wade-watched-child-become-who-she-now-eventually-is/">told</a> the “All the Smoke.&#8221;
“And for me… nothing changes in my love. Nothing changes in my responsibilities. So, all I had to do now is get smarter, educate myself more. And that’s my job,” continued Wade, who recently <a href="https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/miami-heat-star-dwyane-wade-kicks-off-nba-62332990">retired</a> from the NBA after an uber-successful career.
“First of all, you want to talk about strength and courage, my 12-year-old has way more than I have,” he said. “You can learn something from your kids.”
After Wade noticed Zaya was not on the &#8220;boy vibe&#8221; that his other son was on, he said he questioned if the boy was gay and how he would feel about that. Apparently, the couple realized Zaya was really a girl.
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</a> 
 <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B9eV-FwnNwT/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Everyone allow her to re-introduce herself her name is Zaya Wade! Last night was Zaya’s first red carpet and we couldn’t have been prouder of how she handled the questions that were asked of her. She has emerged as one of the young faces and voices for the LGBTQ+ community. #truthawards</a>
<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dwyanewade/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> dwyanewade</a> (@dwyanewade) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2020-03-08T13:20:29+00:00">Mar 8, 2020 at 6:20am PDT</time>
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Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dwyane-wade-talks-about-transgender-son-turning-into-who-she-is-hits-folks-questioning-his-parenting">Dwyane Wade Talks About Transgender Son Turning Into Who ‘She’ Is, Hits Folks Questioning His Parenting</a>

Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade

Dwyane Wade Hails 12-Year-Old ‘Trans’ Son As LGBTQ Leader In Instagram Post: ‘Allow Her To Re-Introduce Herself’

LGBTQ

During Tuesday&#8217;s episode of &#8220;The Ellen DeGeneres Show,&#8221; former NBA star Dwyane Wade discussed the gender transition of his 12-year-old child Zion Malachi Airamis, who is biologically male but now &#8220;identifies&#8221; as female.
Wade said preteen Zion, who now goes by Zaya, is a &#8220;leader&#8221; in the LGBTQ+ community, and noted that he and his wife, actress Gabrielle Union, are also &#8220;proud&#8221; allies of the community.
Host Ellen DeGeneres, to massive applause, praised Wade for being a &#8220;loving and supportive&#8221; father to Zaya.
&#8220;We are proud, when I say proud, we are proud parents of a child in the LGBTQ+ community, and we are proud allies, as well,&#8221; responded Wade.
The former Miami Heat guard said he and Union take their role as parents &#8220;very seriously.&#8221;
&#8220;When Zaya, 12 years old, came home,&#8221; explained Wade, noting that Zion &#8220;was born as a boy,&#8221; the child told he and Union that he wanted to &#8220;live his truth.&#8221;
&#8220;I think going forward I&#8217;m ready to live my truth,&#8221; Wade recalled his son telling him at age 12. &#8220;I wanna be referenced as &#8216;she&#8217; and &#8216;her&#8217; and I would love for you guys to call me Zaya.&#8221;
&#8220;We wanted to give our child the best opportunity to be her best self,&#8221; added Wade.
In December, Wade made similar comments about his child. “I watched my son, from day one, become into who she now eventually come into,” he <a href="https://people.com/parents/dwyane-wade-watched-child-become-who-she-now-eventually-is/">told</a> the “All the Smoke” podcast.
“And for me … nothing changes in my love. Nothing changes in my responsibilities. So, all I had to do now is get smarter educate myself more. And that’s my job,” he continued, noting, “You want to talk about strength and courage, my 12-year-old has way more than I have. You can learn something from your kids.”
“Me and my wife are having conversations about, you know, us noticing that, you know, [Zion] wasn’t on the boy vibe that Zaire was on,&#8221; Wade said. &#8220;And I had to look myself in the mirror and say, ‘What if your son comes home and tell you he’s gay? What are you going to do? How are you going to be? How are you going to act?’ It ain’t about him. He knows who he is. It’s about you. Who are you?”
“This is the new normal,&#8221; the former NBA star contended. &#8220;So, if anybody different, we’re looked at as different. The ones that don’t understand it. The ones that don’t get it. The ones that get stuck in the box, you know, they’re different. Not the people out here living their lives.”
In November, after a Thanksgiving family photo was posted to social media, wherein the young boy was sporting long, colored, manicured nails and a crop top, Wade responded via social media.
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“I’ve seen some post-thanksgiving hate on social about my family photo,&#8221; he posted. &#8220;Stupidity is apart of this world we live in — so i get it. But here’s the thing — I’ve been chosen to lead my family not y’all. So we will continue to be us and support each other with pride, love &amp; a smile!” 
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dwyane-wade-talks-about-transgender-son-turning-into-who-she-is-hits-folks-questioning-his-parenting">Dwyane Wade Talks About Transgender Son Turning Into Who ‘She’ Is, Hits Folks Questioning His Parenting</a>
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WATCH:
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Dwyane Wade’s Candid Talk About Supporting His 12-Year-Old&#039;s Gender Identity" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AG9-Q6UabfQ?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Dwyane Wade And Gabrielle Union

WATCH: Dwyane Wade Says 12-Year-Old ‘Trans’ Son Changed ‘Her’ Name; Ellen DeGeneres Praises Him On Parenting Skills

Ellen Degeneres

A prominent conservative was supposed to speak on campus at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida in the next few weeks, but a decision from Broward County Public Schools has forced him to deliver his speech elsewhere.
Charlie Kirk, 24, is the founder of Turning Point USA, a conservative group whose goal is to &#8220;push back against intolerance and bias against conservatives in higher education.&#8221;
<a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/broward/article208792669.html">The Miami Herald</a> reports:
<blockquote>
The turning away of prominent pundit Charlie Kirk, seen in some right-wing circles as the latest example of school campuses censoring conservative ideas, was not based on ideological biases, according to a spokesperson for Broward County Public Schools.
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Broward County Public Schools spokesperson Cathleen Brennan said, &#8220;The school&#8217;s administration has met with the student organizers and advised them that non-school sponsored, student-initiated guest speaker assemblies/meetings are not permitted to take place on campus.&#8221;
In a tweet, Kirk noted that the school district&#8217;s decision was based on his beliefs, writing: &#8220;I was invited by several students to speak at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL. It seems there has been a decision to not allow me on campus. However, I bet if I was advocating for gun confiscation things would be quite different.&#8221;
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I was invited by several students to speak at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL
It seems there has been a decision to not allow me on campus. However, I bet if I was advocating for gun confiscation things would be quite different <a href="https://t.co/jmBChoGLOQ">https://t.co/jmBChoGLOQ</a>
&#8212; Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) <a href="https://twitter.com/charliekirk11/status/984805797493395461?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 13, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Conservative student Kyle Kashuv announced Kirk would be speaking on campus on April 11 in a tweet that said: &#8220;It&#8217;s official!!!! @charliekirk11 will be speaking at #MSD! #KirkAtMSD&#8221;
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It&#8217;s official!!!! <a href="https://twitter.com/charliekirk11?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@charliekirk11</a> will be speaking at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MSD?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MSD</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KirkAtMSD?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KirkAtMSD</a> <a href="https://t.co/FszRKDo7OV">pic.twitter.com/FszRKDo7OV</a>
&#8212; Kyle Kashuv (@KyleKashuv) <a href="https://twitter.com/KyleKashuv/status/984126073855242248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2018</a></blockquote>
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When the school district told Kirk he was not allowed to speak on campus, Kashuv quickly pointed out that they allowed NBA star Dwayne Wade on campus, writing: &#8220;It&#8217;s quite interesting that @DwyaneWade was allowed on campus to push gun control &#8211; on what appears to have been a student invite &#8211; but @charliekirk11 isn&#8217;t allowed to. To say that @DwyaneWade wasn&#8217;t pushing an agenda and was just there to console is false.&#8221;
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
It&#8217;s quite interesting that <a href="https://twitter.com/DwyaneWade?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DwyaneWade</a> was allowed on campus to push gun control &#8211; on what appears to have been a student invite &#8211; but <a href="https://twitter.com/charliekirk11?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@charliekirk11</a> isn&#8217;t allowed to.
To say that <a href="https://twitter.com/DwyaneWade?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DwyaneWade</a> wasn&#8217;t pushing an agenda and was just there to console is false. <a href="https://t.co/GqOZMLUFpc">pic.twitter.com/GqOZMLUFpc</a>
&#8212; Kyle Kashuv (@KyleKashuv) <a href="https://twitter.com/KyleKashuv/status/984863714074611718?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 13, 2018</a></blockquote>
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CENSORED: Parkland High School Refuses To Let Conservative Give Speech

Censorship

Free Speech

Gun Control

On Saturday, commenting on the murder of Nykea Aldridge, the cousin of Chicago Bulls star Dwyane Wade, Donald Trump posted on Twitter:
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Dwyane Wade&#8217;s cousin was just shot and killed walking her baby in Chicago. Just what I have been saying. African-Americans will VOTE TRUMP!
&#8212; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/769571710924263424">August 27, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Aldridge was killed while pushing a baby stroller.
Fierce backlash erupted after Trump&#8217;s tweet:
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You are truly a POS <a href="https://t.co/cyTwxgxwDh">https://t.co/cyTwxgxwDh</a>
&#8212; Don Cheadle (@DonCheadle) <a href="https://twitter.com/DonCheadle/status/769544407368421377">August 27, 2016</a></blockquote>
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There&#8217;s nothing more horrifying than a presidential candidate patting himself on the back after someone is killed. <a href="https://t.co/TrrmEl0zpw">https://t.co/TrrmEl0zpw</a>
&#8212; Josh Jordan (@NumbersMuncher) <a href="https://twitter.com/NumbersMuncher/status/769530094058602496">August 27, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<div class="media_embed">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Trump exploiting the death of Dwyane Wade&#8217;s cousin to gain votes is despicable. <a href="https://t.co/kylGvgmq5S">https://t.co/kylGvgmq5S</a>
&#8212; Kick (@MatthewKick) <a href="https://twitter.com/MatthewKick/status/769538281491066880">August 27, 2016</a></blockquote>
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The backlash prompted him to tweet an hour and a half later:
<div class="media_embed">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Dwyane Wade&#8217;s cousin was just shot and killed walking her baby in Chicago. Just what I have been saying. African-Americans will VOTE TRUMP!
&#8212; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/769571710924263424">August 27, 2016</a></blockquote>
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On Sunday, Trump&#8217;s campaign manager Kellyasnne Conway <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/donald-trump-dwyane-wade-campaign-manager_us_57c2e8e9e4b04193420f89c5">appeared</a> on Fox News Sunday with host Chris Wallace, who asked, &#8220;Do you think it&#8217;s right to have that kind of political response to a personal tragedy?&#8221;
Conway evaded, &#8220;I was pleased that his next tweet expressed his condolences to the Wade family about the death of his cousin &#8230; That horrifying example, of a woman who had just signed up her children for school pushing a baby stroller, that is a nonpartisan issue that should sicken us all.&#8221;
On <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-trumps-campaign-manager-kellyanne-conway-says-hes-not-shifting-on-immigration/">CBS&#8217;s Face the Nation</a>, Conway explained, &#8220;He tweeted his condolences to the family right after that, and I&#8217;d like everyone to know about both tweets &#8230; I think you have to look at both tweets where he expresses his condolences. He reminds everybody he&#8217;s been trying to make the case that the increase in random crime and senseless murders, the poverty, the joblessness, the homelessness in some of our major cities is unacceptable to all of us.&#8221;
On CNN&#8217;s State of the Union, VP nominee Mike Pence <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2016/08/28/donald-trump-dwyane-wade-tweet-conway/89508100/">argued</a> Trump &#8220;has a plainspoken way about him. And the tragedy of a mother pushing her child on the streets of Chicago being shot and killed, as Nykea Aldridge was, just breaks my heart.&#8221;
Trump had been already accused of politicizing tragedies earlier this year, after the Orlando massacre in which scores of homosexuals were slaughtered in a nightclub by a Muslim terrorist. Trump tweeted:
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Appreciate the congrats for being right on radical Islamic terrorism, I don&#8217;t want congrats, I want toughness &amp; vigilance. We must be smart!
&#8212; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/742034549232766976">June 12, 2016</a></blockquote>
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