Actor Hill Harper Misgendered Zaya Wade on Her Birthday

There's a lot going on in the world right now. There's a virus and disease that's currently causing a global pandemic that has been ongoing for the past few months. There's also another fatal ongoing epidemic of systemic, fatal racism against Black people. And that's just this week!

But, with all of those things happening, actor Hill Harper thought that now was the perfect time to avert his attention from those issues and instead misgender a child at a time when being quiet is still an option. My god.

For Zaya Wade's 13th birthday, her mother Gabrielle Union-Wade posted a celebratory post on Instagram.

"Happy Birthday baby!!!" she wrote. "I can't believe you are 13!! Zaya you are such an inspiration and motivation to get my butt up everyday and fight. When I'm weary, furstrated, full of rage, I see your face and your joy and you living your best life and I want that for all of us.

"I love you sooooo much kid!!" she continued. "Enjoy this day and everyday knowing you are loved, protected, respected, admired and celebrated."

The comments on the celebratory post were mostly positive. But one response in particular, from The Good Doctor, Homeland, and CSI: New York actor Hill Harper stood out.

"Happy Birthday young man!!" Harper wrote. Zaya has quite publicly began to use she/her pronouns with Gabrielle and Dwyane both referring to her as their daughter. "Read "Letters to a Young Brother"!!! Your mom wrote something in it!! You'll love it! Have a great day!!"

The comment has rightfully been called out by over 100 commenters for misgendering Zaya. It seems that this was done on purpose given how public Gabrielle and Dwyane have been both on social media and in interviews about Zaya's relationship to her gender and the family's journey to understanding.

It honestly just reiterates the question: why be transphobic (to a teenager, no less) when you could be quiet?

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