Father-daughter relationship! Wade He has always said that he is proud of his daughter Zaya’s growth over the years.
In February 2020, the professional basketball player announced that Zaya had transitioned. “First, my wife and I, Gabrielle Union, we are proud parents and proud allies of children in the LGBTQ+ community,” Wade said on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, adding, “We take our role and responsibility as parents very seriously. “
At the time, the athlete noted that the couple’s “job as parents is to listen” to their children and “give them the best information and the best feedback that we can. to sex.”
Wade welcomed son Zaire in 2002 and daughter Zaya with his ex-wife in 2007 Siobhan Finch. In 2013, the former NBA player became a father to son Xavier, whom he lives with go meyerAfter marrying Union, the couple welcomed their daughter Kaavia in November 2018 via surrogate.
The actress was also candid about learning more about Zaya’s gender identity. “It’s watching love deal with hate that’s been encouraging,” we need more wine author told type May 2020. “We’re just loving and accepting our kids, it’s not revolutionary. To some, it’s insane. To those who are so openly opposed to our family…I’m not alone. Here comes the cavalry, they Unafraid to stand up for the truth, uncompromising when we see right and wrong.”
Ahead of Pride in June 2022, Wade praised his daughter for being honest about her personal journey. “For years, I didn’t tell my chef that I didn’t like cilantro on my burgers — it took me years as an adult to have the confidence to say it,” he said of CNN then. “My 8-year-old daughter has the confidence to say, ‘This is me. This is who I want to be.'”
That same month, the Illinois native lauded his child’s interest in helping others in the LGBTQIA+ community. “My family, we’re not celebrating [Pride]. Zaya made it clear that she [doesn’t] Want to celebrate pride.I think for her, having a loving, supportive community every day is a moment of celebration for her,” he EXCLUSIVELY told our weekly“But most of all my daughter said, ‘We want to be able to help other families.’ So throughout our foundation, we try to make sure we’re helping the LGBTQIA+ community. That’s how we celebrate.”
In November 2022, Wade fired back at Funches after business owners accused him of profiting off Zaya’s gender identity. “I worry [Dwyane] may pressure our child to change his name and gender to take advantage of financial opportunities he receives from the company and will be based on [his] Issue a statement to me based on a change in our child’s name and/or gender,” the AWOW businesswoman said in a court document obtained by us, referring to her ex-husband’s petition to legally change Zaya’s name.
The NBA player publicly refuted Funches’ allegations via Instagram, claiming that her “serious and harmful allegations” have “hurt” their children. “While we’re not surprised by Siohvaughn’s attempts to wrestle with Zaya’s identity and her unwavering attempts to drag my name through the mud, I’m deeply disappointed that she keeps finding ways to center herself and her needs methods without regard to her children,” Wade wrote in November.
He continued: “All I’ve always wanted is for my parenting time to be uninterrupted because I know it’s going to be a really hard time for our kids to adjust to their new normal. Didn’t really try co-parenting and left the house to see more lawyers and since I filed for divorce she’s taken the time to talk to more lawyers than she’s left the house to actually meet or really talk to and have been over the years Listening to Zaya.”
Subscribe to Us Weekly’s free daily newsletter and never miss breaking news or scoops on your favorite celebrities, TV shows and more!
Scroll down to see some of Wade’s most meaningful quotes about his relationship with Zaya: