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 just... I think that what everything... you know, every parent should be is what you're being right now, which is unconditionally loving your child and

supporting

them... Thank you. --in whoever they are. I mean... Thank you. That's... there are so many parents who just say, oh, you're not going the way I imagined or wanted you to be and they 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 from the LGBTQ+ community. And we are also proud allies. And we take our roles 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, give them the best information we can, the best feedback. . Yes we can, and that doesn't change because now sexuality is involved in it.

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, came home and he said, hey, then I want to

talk

to you. I believe that in the future, I am ready to live my truth. And I want to be referred to as she and her. I would love to be called Zaya. And so internally, it's now our job to go out and get information to reach all the relationships that we have. My wife reached out to every member of the “Pose” cast.

And we're just trying to get as much information as possible to make sure we give our child the best chance to be, you know, her best self. 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 weren't, she goes to school and she wants to be protective and make sure she's safe... Yeah. --That must be scary, because it's one thing for you to love her and your wife to love her, but that has to-- you just want her to everyone loves her the same way.

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

year

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

I don't know what to do. Yes. Then you are a great example. Thank you. The... I know everyone is still mourning the loss of Kobe... Yeah. --and all the people we lost-- you must have a lot of memories of Kobe. And he was... he was a light, right? He was just a very, very 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 young people really torn apart by this is because he was the first superstar that really embraced different generations, really embraced us.

And I think from 2008 onwards, from the Olympics, he really embraced us, as competitors, and the rest of the world. You saw him more involved in a lot of different sports, not just basketball and soccer, obviously, with his daughter and women's basketball. But he started to be a person that everyone can call, come up to and say: Hi, Kobe, I have a question. So I'm going to miss that example... Yes. --not just my friend, but that example that he was giving not only to me, but to so many others. Yes. Yes. Well said. He was a good guy.

Yes. You're a good boy. You have to see the documentary. It's called D. Wade, Unexpected Life. Airs Sunday, February 23 at 9:00 on ESPN. We'll be right back.