It is only over 4 years since Dwyane Wade declared his daughter’s trans identity in early 2020. Zaya is blessed with a supporting pop but her biological mother, D-Wade’s ex-wife Siohvaughn Funches, still needs convincing with the former Heat Champion having had to fight it at court. As of now, Wade is up for a social cause which gave him this platform to speak. 

This is about the Nonprofit Organization The Elevate Prize Foundation honoring the legend for his vocal support for the LGBTQ+ community since Zaya disclosed her identity. Here, the 3x NBA Champion shared his thoughts on Zaya’s challenges, which the NPO took to Instagram while celebrating Trans Remembrance Day. 

‘Father Prime’ had his wisdom spoken: “In This Country, [As a Trans Person] You’re in a constant battle to justify your right to simply exist. And as a parent, it is my job to protect and support my child to exist in this world freely.”

While sharing this excerpt from his speech the organization wrote: “Holding @dwyanewade’s words close to our hearts this #TransRemembranceDay. 💛  This past May, we were deeply proud to honor NBA Hall of Famer (and Miami legend!) with the Elevate Prize Catalyst Award in recognition of his advocacy for the transgender community. Live on stage at our #MakeGoodFamous Summit, he also announced the launch of @translatableproject, a safe space for LGBTQIA+ youth to express themselves and a resource hub for our parents, families, and support systems. His tireless dedication to the trans community and racial justice inspires us every day. May we all love our children as Dwyane does!”

The post took an emotional turn with Zaya Wade sharing it on IG story with“🥺🥺🥺.”

While this honor and the $250,000 funding that comes with it helps Dwyane Wade to practically implement LGBTQIA+ community support through ‘Translatable‘, the journey so far was tough for the Wade family with criticisms around the corner. The bright side is that they tried to build self-awareness.

To quote Wade from 2021: “It’s our family’s job to make sure that we listen to her. We listen to the doctors. We ask questions and we formulate our own ideas of how Zaya should be and should be raised in this world and we don’t allow others to do that for us.”

The 2022 legal move by the ‘Flash‘ to make her name and gender change from 2020 legal could be hailed from this awareness. Thus by early 2023, Zion Malachi Airamis Wade got it changed to Zaya Malachi Airamis Wade along with a legally accepted claim on changed gender. However, this wasn’t done without another challenge from her mother Funches-Wade. 

The biological mother and her claims

Zaya, with an older brother Zaire, are the two children the Hall of Famer had with Funches-Wade in his 5 year-long wedlock between 2002 and 2007. After the divorce, a legal battle of about 4 years let Wade have custody of the children. The Heat icon calls her an “absent parent” despite being given opportunities to connect with children. However, she had a strong stand since Zaya came out as trans. 

This made her file a petition against Wade’s petition for name and gender change. This happened in late November 2022, stating reasons with an alleged profiteering that the NBA icon had through marketing Zaya’s gender transition. Holding this stand alongside possible peer pressure from the nature of her life, Funches fought to restrain Wade’s petition until her daughter turned 18. 

“I will not sit on my hands this time and allow her to make a mockery of my dedication to my family,” D-Wade was reported to have said amidst this in-and-off-court fight. 

As events turned out, D-Wade got his way through court, eventually leading him to support not just his children, but all the others like Zaya.