Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union Honored with Prestigious President’s Award for Supporting the LGBTQ+ Community at NAACP Awards After NBA Star Legally Changed Transgender Daughter’s Name and Gender Despite Opposition From Ex-Wife
Dwyane Wade and his wife Gabrielle Union received the prestigious President’s Award on Saturday for their support of the LGBTQ+ community at the 2023 NAACP awards.
It comes just a day after the 40-year-old former professional basketball player’s 15-year-old daughter – who came out at age 12 in 2019 – was given a legal name and gender reassignment, despite her mother’s opposition.
The NBA star took the opportunity to address his daughter – now legally named Zaya Malachi Airamis Wade – and praise her for dealing with the “ignorance in our world.”
“Zaya, as your father, I just wanted to do well. I’ve sat back and watched how gracefully you’ve taken public criticism, and though it’s not easy, every morning I watched you walk out of the house looking like yourself.’
“I admire how you have dealt with the ignorance in our world. I admire that you face it every day. To say your village is proud of you is an understatement,” the proud father continued.
Prestigious Award: Dwyane Wade and wife Gabrielle Union received the prestigious President’s Award on Saturday for their support of the LGBTQ+ community at the 2023 NAACP awards
The latest: It comes just a day after his transgender daughter Zaya, 15, was given a legal name and gender reassignment following a legal battle with his ex-wife Siohvaughn Funches-Wade; Dwyane and Zaya suggested 2022