“Honestly, there was a lot of silence”: Dwyane Wade reflects on the moment daughter Zaya Wade came out as transgender

NBA Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade was present at The Dads premiere at South by Southwest. During a recent interview with media outlet The Hollywood Reporter over Zoom, the Miami Heat’s alum opened up on one of the most vulnerable days in his life.

Wade reflected on the time when his daughter Zaya, with ex-wife Siohvaughn Funches, came out as transgender in 2020, placing the NBA star’s in the center of parenting and identity acceptance. Reportedly, Wade is the executive producer of the Netflix-based documentary The Dads. The subject of the documentary is deeply personal to the NBA star, as it deals with the struggles that come along with a trans child in the current times. Dwyane Wade is currently married to Hollywood star Gabrielle Union. After being together for over a decade, the couple share a daughter named Kaavia James.

Dwyane Wade revisits the emotional moment daughter Zaya Wade came out as transgender

During a recent Zoom interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Dwyane Wade revisited one of the toughest times in his life. The Miami Heat star revealed it wasn’t easy for the entire family when his daughter Zaya came forward as transgender back in 2020. He revealed that his job was to support his daughter and stand by her when she needed him the most. The NBA star said,“When it first became public, honestly, there was a lot of silence.

A lot of guys didn’t know what to say. And I understand that. Sports culture hasn’t always had these conversations, so sometimes people just stay quiet because they’re afraid of saying the wrong thing. But for me it was never about getting approval. My job is to support my child.”

He further elaborated, “She’s doing great. What’s been really beautiful about her starting college is that she gets to walk into a space where she doesn’t have to introduce herself through her story. For a long time our family’s journey has been very public. Now she can just meet people, make friends, and be herself.”According to Dwyane Wade, his biggest responsibility as a father was to stand by his daughter Zaya. Even his current wife, Gabrielle Union-Wade, is an advocate for trans people and their rights.