Zaya Wade is thriving, and we can attribute that to her supportive parents. The teen was honored as one of this year’s groundbreakers at the Out100 2024 event, which gives influential LGBTQ+ influencers their flowers for the work they’re doing. Zaya’s parents, Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union were right in her corner, showing support as per usual.
Other stars honored at the event include Wicked star Cynthia Erivo, named the 2024 Out100 Icon of the Year, and Sheryl Lee Ralph.
At the event, the Wade family looked dapper; Zaya wore a black Lena jacket dress and Mary Jane heels, while Union-Wade wore a short green and brown gingham dress. The former NBA player wore a white turtleneck sweater underneath a denim jacket and black slacks.
The teen came out as transgender in 2020 and has been blossoming and advocating for others since. Dwayne and Union have also become Allies for the LGBTQ+ community. The Hall of Famers advocacy bagged him the Elevate Prize Catalyst Award in May. During his speech, the former Heat player said he was just doing what a good parent should do by supporting his daughter.
“This is just part of the Wade family, all the things that we do …,” he said back in May. “We feel that in this space to make the world a better place, you have to have acceptance.”
“She didn’t ask for this extra excitement in life,” Wade said of Zaya. “She just wanted to be a kid and do kid things and live her life and be selfish and worry about herself. That’s what you’re supposed to do at her age, worry about you. But she’s thinking about a larger community, and so I’m damn proud of her as a father.”
He continued, “You will hope as a parent that your kids feel comfortable to communicate with you when they’re confused and they’re looking for answers,” he continued. “Whatever it is they are experiencing, that they feel comfortable enough to express those things to you. You won’t want it to be someone else. At the end of the day, they’re your kids. But you have to create the environment for that.”
