Back in 2020, when a 12-year-old Zaya decided to come out to her parents, she’d hesitate a moment. Dwyane Wade remembers her hiding in his wife’s arms as he returned home. Little did Zaya know her father would become her loudest advocate alongside Gabrielle, that she’d teach them one too many things, and that a little through them, she’d play a massive part in impacting her community. It’s Black History Month and Gab is here to remind the cause they stand for.

During the 2023 54th NAACP Image Awards, Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union were honored with the President’s Award, recognizing their efforts in advancing social justice. Wade had a little speech prepared then, one thanking Zaya and lauding her strength. “Zaya, as your father, all I’ve wanted to do was to get it right. I have sat back and watched how gracefully you’ve taken on public scrutiny. And even though it’s not easy, I watched you walk out of the house every morning as yourself. I admire how you’ve handled ignorance in our world,” he starts. 

Coming out at just 12 years old, in the public eye at that, it was a tough world to navigate for Zaya. She realizes the pressure, but looking on the bright side, the now-17-year-old is just happy to reach more people. She hasn’t feared being herself, taking over the fashion world in the process and gracing the covers of magazines. Alongside the Miami Heat icon, Zaya has also launched Transtable, a safe space for LGBTQ+ youth to express themselves.

The Wade couple has had a lot to learn through the journey themselves. “Thank you for showing me that there is more than just one way to communicate effectively… Thank you for showing the world what courage looks like,” he concludes. But more importantly, she has been a window to look into the struggles within their community.

Thus calling people to action, Gab highlights, “We honestly don’t approach this work as activists or leaders, as much as we do this as parents who love our children and will do whatever the h-ll we can to keep them seen, secure, and safe.” To sum it up, she had one question: “Will we fight for some or will we fight for all our people?”

When BET brought the speech back today, the Bring It On actress couldn’t help but reshare the post. “#bhm,” she wrote on her Instagram story, before wishing a Happy Black History Month and penning, “remember, no need to stay for the disrespect.” 

Union and Wade were among the likes to LeBron James, Prince Harry & Meghan Markle, and Muhammad Ali, to receive the award. Their foundation works to support marginalized communities in need and help advance racial justice and LGBTQ+ equality. Providing healthcare, raising money, and offering resources, the couple has been committed.

But for much of their involvement in LGBTQ+ community, they have had to learn from their daughter.

Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle grow with their daughter

The two have acquired quite the recognition now, including awards like NAACP and Elevate Prize Catalyst Award. But they did not just come by. In their efforst visible today, Gab and Dwyane had to learn things from their daughter. “I’m not going to sit here and act like before our child sat us down that we weren’t ignorant parents. When I say we’re learning from our 12-year-old, we’re literally learning from our child,” Dwyane had said in conversation with Good Morning America.

The Heat icon had admitted to being ignorant of the identities just months before Zaya came out. We know how he has responded and grown since. As for Gab, she bonded even better with her step daughter learning about her truest self. The two have since led the efforts, supporting Zaya in whatever way she wants to reach people.

More recently, they accompanied her to the Out100, where she’d collect her Groundbreaker award, among her many icons. But it hasn’t been one way in the family. The 17-year-old reveals, having her father by her side made things better and impactful. She has had lessons around non-existent beauty standards to learn from Gab and the possibility of growing and unlearning from her father. At the end of the day, the Wade family heads towards a greater good.