November 4, 2022
Zaya Wade's Mom Trying to 'Fight' Her Gender Identity Says Dwyane Wade
Emell Adolphus READ TIME: 2 MIN.
NBA legend Dwyane Wade has been a staunch advocate of letting his transgender daughter Zaya live in her truth, and now he is defending his decision to do so against his ex-wife.
As reported by NBC News, Wade's ex-wife Siohvaughn Funches-Wade, and mother to Zaya, is accusing the former basketball player of profiting off of Zaya's transition. After filing a petition to have Zaya's name and gender legally changed, Funches-Wade fired back with a petition in objection to the whole matter on Tuesday. She alleged that Wade might be "pressuring our child to move forward with the name and gender change." She argued that Zaya should wait until she is 18.
In a statement about the matter, Wade said his ex-wife is simply trying to fight Zaya's identity and he won't stand for the negativity. While reportedly during tour around Africa, Wade released a statement on Instagram Thursday calling his ex-wife out.
"While none of us are surprised by Siohvaughn's attempt to fight Zaya's identity and her unwavering attempt to drag my name through the mud, I'm very disappointed that she continuously finds ways of centering herself and HER needs, without regard to her children," Wade wrote. "This report came out while Zaya was in class. This is a kid who has maintained a 4.0 GPA in honors classes while navigating all this unsolicited and harmful attention and debates about her gender and sexuality from those who are committed to not listening to her, much less even knowing her!"
Wade was married to Funches-Wad from 2002 to 2010. He is now married to actor Gabrielle Union, who has been supportive of Zaya's transition. Zaya came out as trans in 2020. However, Wade said Zaya knew she was transgender at the age of 3.
About Zaya's transition and how it has helped him be more conscious of the words he uses that could be harmful to the LGBTQ community, Wade said: "I knew early on that I had to check myself," he said. "I've been a person in the locker room that has been a part of the conversation that has said the wrong phrases and the wrong words myself."
"Zaya is more than that," Wade said of her gender identity . "Zaya is a 14-year-old amazing girl, who since she stepped into her classroom on day one has never gotten lower than A."
