Dwyane Wade’s Candid Talk About Supporting His 12-Year-Old's Gender Identity

Thanks for being here. Thank you. That was a clip from the ESPN documentary. And first of all, I think that's what everything… you know, every parent should be is what you're being right now, which is loving your child unconditionally and

supporting

your child… Thank you. --on whoever they are. I mean... Thank you. That's… there are so many parents that just, oh, you're not going the way I envisioned or wanted you to be and freak out. And you are so loving and supportive of Zaya. And what a special girl she is. Yes it is, it is. Thank you very much for that.

First of all, my wife and I, my wife Gabrielle Union, are proud, when I say proud, we are proud parents of a child in the LGBTQ+ community. And we are also proud allies. And we take our role and responsibility as parents very seriously. So when our child comes home with a question, when our child comes home with a problem, 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 because now sexuality is involved.

So once Zaya, our 12-

year

-old son, came home, and first Zion, everyone, I don't know if everyone knows, originally named Zion, Zion born as a boy, he came home and said, hey, so I want to to

talk

with you. I believe that in the future, I am ready to live my truth. And I want to be referenced as her and her. I would love to be called Zaya. And so, internally, now it's our job, first, to go out and get information, to get into every relationship that we have. My wife reached out to all of the "Pose" cast.

And we're just trying to get as much information as possible to make sure we're giving our son the best chance to be, you know, his best selves. Yeah. I mean, I would think it's one thing-- It's one thing to have this at home, but to know that she's going to be out in the world-- Yeah. --because you're a public figure, and even if you're not, she'll go to school, and she wants to be protective and make sure she's safe-- Yeah. --that must be a scary thing, because it's one thing to love her and for your wife to love her, but that must-- you just want everyone to love her just the same.

Exactly. And once Zaya came home and said, hey, you call me Zion, I'm ready to take this on, and I looked at her and said, you're a leader. You are a leader. And this is our opportunity to allow you to be a voice. Right now it is through us, because he is 12

year

s old. But eventually, it will be through her. Good. Well, and GLSEN is an organization that you are working with. And there are many, if there is anyone else out there, who can relate to this and need help, you can visit our website and we can direct you, because I'm sure there are many people who just don't know what to do.

Yeah. So you're a great example. Thank you. Him-- I know everyone is still grieving the loss of Kobe-- Yes. --and all the people we lost-- you must have a lot of memories of Kobe. And he was... he was a light, wasn't he? It was such a bright, bright light. He was special. I mean, I think my favorite… you know, we all have stories and moments from our interactions with Kobe. But I think what was special about him and why you see so many guys in the NBA or so many younger guys really torn apart by this is because he was the first superstar to really embrace different generations, really embrace us.

And I think from 2008 onward, from the Olympics, he really embraced us, as competitors, and the rest of the world. He sees him more involved in so many different sports, not just basketball and soccer, obviously, with his daughter and women's basketball. But he just started being a person that everyone can call and reach out to and say, hey Kobe, I have a question. So I'm going to miss that example-- Yes. --Not just my friend, but that example that he was setting not only for me, but for so many others. Yes. Yes. Well said. He was a good guy.

Yes. You're a good guy. You have to see the documentary. His name is D. Wade, Unexpected Life. It airs on Sunday, February 23 at 9:00 p.m. m. by ESPN. We'll be right back.