'You're a leader': Dwyane Wade, Gabrielle Union introduce trans daughter Zaya
Social media showed love and support to the 12-year-old, who was previously known as Zion
Image: Edward Berthelot/Getty Images
Compassionate, world-changer and wise.
These were some of words used to describe Zaya Wade, who was formally introduced to the world as being transgender by her father, retired basketball star Dwyane Wade and stepmother Gabrielle Union on Tuesday.
Wade spoke about his daughter's journey and their support for her and the LGBTQ+ community in a moving interview with Ellen DeGeneres.
“And we take our roles and our responsibility as parents very seriously ... So once Zaya, our 12-year-old, came home — first Zion everybody, I don't know if everyone knows, named Zion, Zion born as a boy — came home and said, 'Hey so I want to talk to you guys. I think, going forward, I want to live my truth and I want to be referenced as she and her'.”
Union meanwhile, took to social media to introduce “compassionate, whip-smart” Zaya.
She also shared a video of Zaya encouraging people afraid of being judged to “not even think about that” and “stay true to yourself”.