Dwyane Wade Fears for Transgender Daughter Zaya’s Safety ‘Every Moment She Leaves the House’
Dwyane Wade always has his daughter’s back — but he also got real about his fears as the parent of a transgender child.“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,” the former NBA star, 40, told CNN at the TIME100 summit on Tuesday, June 7 about his daughter Zaya, 15. “And not just because of gun violence, but because of the way people perceive her in this world.”The Miami Heat alum also addressed anti-trans politics, inviting lawmakers to experience life how his oldest daughter does by spending a day in her shoes.“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,” Wade remarked. “Come and live a day with my daughter.
Come and see how it is to walk through this world as her.”While voicing his fears and anger at transphobic laws, the retired athlete also praised Zaya for the lessons she’s taught him through her gender identity journey.“I went years without telling my chef that I don’t like cilantro on my burger — as an adult, it took me years to have the confidence to say that,” Wade revealed. “My daughter, at 8 years old, had the confidence to say, ‘This is who I am.
This is who I want to be.’”In addition to Zaya and her brother Zaire, 20 (both of whom he shares with ex Siohvaughn Funches), Wade is also dad to son Xavier, 8 (whom he shares with Basketball Wives alum Aja Metoyer) and daughter Kaavia, 3 (whom he shares with wife Gabrielle Union).The professional basketball player initially revealed Zaya’s gender identity on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in February 2020.“First of all, me and my wife, Gabrielle Union, we are proud parents of a child in the LGBTQ+ community, and
