Gabrielle & Dwyane Wade Show How to Embrace Trans Children
The Wade family has been making the news a lot lately
Photo: Instagram/gabunion
The Wade family has been making the news a lot lately. Gabrielle Union-Wade was open about her fertility issues, and how her daughter was born via surrogacy. Most recently, we’ve seen her stand up against toxic work environments. Now we are seeing how she and husband Dwyane, are showing the world what it means to be accepting of their trans daughter, Zaya.
Late last year, Gabrielle and Dwyane Wade shared a family Thanksgiving picture, but the image triggered social media buzz after people focused on the stylish long nails that their son Zion was wearing.
Dwyane addressed the matter and tweeted, “I’ve seen some post-thanksgiving hate on social about my family photo. 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 & a smile.”
Now, months later, the couple is sharing how their son Zion came out as a trans female. In a video post, Gabrielle captioned it by writing “Meet Zaya. She’s compassionate, loving, whip smart, and we are so proud of her. It’s Ok to listen to, love & respect your children exactly as they are. Love and light good people.”
The video featured Zaya talking to her dad about the importance of being true to oneself. She said, “What’s the point of being on this earth if you’re just going to try to be someone you’re not? It’s like, you’re not even living your true self, which is, like, the dumbest concept to me. Be true, and don’t really care what the stereotypical way of being you is.”
Yesterday, Dwyane expressed to Ellen DeGeneres about how Zaya officially came out to her parents as a trans female. He said, “Our 12-year-old 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.”
Both Dwyane and Gabrielle have both shared what this process has been like for them as parents. They said it’s been through education and love that they’ve been able to support Zaya completely.
Last year, Dwayne said, “I’ve watched my son from day one become into who she now eventually has come into. And for me it’s all about…nothing changes with my love, nothing changes with my responsibilities. Only thing I have to do now is get smarter and educate myself more, and that’s my job.”
