Dwyane Wade Reveals Transgender Daughter Zaya Knew She Was Female Since Age 3

B.D.

So proud of Dwyane Wade and his amazing 12-year-old daughter Zaya!

Zaya, who was born male before recently making worldwide news when it was revealed she identifies as female, was the subject of her proud father’s discussion on Good Morning America this morning. And when it came time to tell the Wade fam’s story to host Robin Roberts, it was clear to see how much family pride and support there is for Zaya! So great!

Related: Dwyane Wade Is Seriously SO Supportive Of His Lovely Family!

In the sit-down interview, during which the former NBA star also discusses his new ESPN documentary, Wade revealed to Roberts that Zaya was certain of her gender identity as a 3-year-old, saying (below):

“She’s known it for nine years. She’s known since she was 3 years old. Along this way we’ve asked questions and we’ve learned. But she’s known. And so I knew early on that I had to check myself. That’s what I knew. I knew early on that I had to ask myself questions.”

And considering the environment Wade’s used to — the locker room, for one, with plenty of hyper-masculine energy often closed off to the LGBT community — he knew he would have to step up and be a bigger man for it.

The longtime NBA superstar discussed more about that, too, saying:

“I’ve been a person in a locker room that has been a part of the conversation that has said the wrong phrases and the wrong words myself. As I got older and I watched my daughter grow, I had to go and look at myself in the mirror and say, ‘Who are you? What are you going to do if your child comes home and says, ‘Dad, I’m not a boy … I’m a trans girl.’ What are you going to do?’ That was my moment of real.”

Very well said! So far, it appears he and wife Gabrielle Union have risen to the occasion and then some in providing support for Zaya to thrive, too.

Members of the Wade family rocking t-shirts that say "Please Remain Inclusive & Dedicated to Equality " in support of the LGBTQ+ community.
Members of the Wade family rocking t-shirts that say “Please Remain Inclusive & Dedicated to Equality ” in support of the LGBTQ+ community. / (c) Dwyane Wade/Instagram

As for handling things “the right way” as a parent being part of this conversation with his beloved child, he shared:

“My daughter was my first interaction when it comes to having to deal with this conversation. Hopefully I’m dealing with it the right way. Some people feel that I’m not. But inside our home, we see the smile on her face. We see the confidence that she’s able to walk around and be herself. And that’s when you know you’re doing right. She is our leader.”

And he concluded with an interesting tidbit about just how much thought and contemplation Zaya herself put into this transition from early on:

“I think when the conversation we had — the one thing about it, for parents, is have conversations with your kids. Zaya, early on, knew two things. She knew straight and she knew gay. But she is the one who sat down with us as a family and said, ‘Hey, I don’t think I’m gay.’ And she went down the list. ‘This is how I identify myself, this is my gender identity, I identify myself as a young lady. I think I’m a straight trans because I like boys.’ So it was a process for us to sit down with our daughter and find out who she is and what she likes, and not put something on her. As parents, we put our hopes and we put our fears on our kids. With Zaya, we decided to listen to her. And she’s walking us on the journey.”

Amazing and so inspiring! Zaya sounds SO smart, and so cool!!!

We love this… and we love her!

Related: Dwyane Wade Served The CLASSIEST Clapback To Critics, Too!

BTW, you can watch the basketball legend’s full interview (below):

Well there you go, Perezcious readers! So uplifting and inspiring, isn’t it?? What do U think about all this?! Sound OFF with your take in the comments (below)…

[Image via Dwyane Wade/Instagram]

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