OUT MAGAZINE
Happy Sweet 16 to Zaya Wade!
Actress Gabrielle Union and former NBA superstar Dwyane Wade celebrated their daughter’s 16th birthday over the weekend, sharing loving pics of the family together.
It was a family affair as both parents and Zaya shared slideshows of photos celebrating their love.
“16, so thankful for all the love,” wrote Zaya on her Instagram.
Union and Wade have been role models for parents of trans children ever since Zaya came out in 2020 and Wade went on The Ellen Degeneres Show to support his daughter and announce her name change to Zaya.
"First of all me and my wife, Gabrielle Union, we are proud parents of a child in the LGBTQ+ community and we're proud allies as well," Wade said to DeGeneres. "We take our roles and responsibilities as parents very seriously. So, when our child comes home with a question, when our child comes home with an issue, when our child comes home with anything, it's our job as parents to listen to that to give them the best information that we can, the best feedback that we can, and that doesn't change now that sexuality [and gender] is involved."
Wade and Union have continued to support their trans child. Earlier this year, in February, they helped their daughter get a legal name and gender change, and also spoke out about their love for her at the NAACP Image Awards where they won the President’s Award.
“As your father, my job isn’t to create a version of myself or direct your future,” Wade said at the award show. “My role is to be a facilitator to your hopes, your wishes, your dreams. Zaya, you’ve made me a better human, just simply by being who you were born to be, our baby girl, Zaya Wade.”
“Even as we demand equality at the top of our lungs, we consistently fail to extend our advocacy to protect some of our most vulnerable among us,” Union added. “Black trans people are being targeted, terrorized and hunted in this country. Every day, everywhere. And there’s rarely a whisper about it.”
“This is a conversation worth having in ways that can actually build bridges, right? That don’t fan the flames of hatred or division. That don’t enable lawmakers or justice systems to look the other way when Black trans people are under attack,” she said. “That don’t drive more young people to hate themselves or harm themselves. That don’t cost people their lives.”
