Dwyane Wade and his wife Gabrielle Union have always presented a united front when it comes to supporting the former’s daughter, Zaya. It is no secret that the past couple of months have been full of controversies and legal war between Wade and his ex-wife, Siohvaughn Funches. Therefore, to extend his support and appreciation for his daughter, the Miami Heat legend delivered a moving speech on Saturday night at the recently held NAACP Awards.

15-year-old Zaya Wade turned several heads when she came out as a transgender woman in 2020. Two years later, D-Wade filed a case to legally change Zaya’s name, previously known as Zion, and gender. However, the case was countered by Zaya’s mother, Siohvaughn Funches, who appealed to the court to dismiss Wade’s legal request.

Dwyane Wade opens up about his daughter

The 3x NBA champion and Union were recently honored with the President’s Award at the 2023 NAACP Image Awards. During the acceptance speech, Dwyane Wade moved the audience with his heartfelt message for Zaya. In the clip uploaded by BET, Wade commended his daughter’s courage and ability to push through the scrutiny and harsh criticisms. The 13x NBA All-Star thanked Zaya for teaching him that a message can’t be conveyed just through the mouth but through eyes and ears as well.

Additionally, he stated, “As your father, my job is not to create a version of myself or direct your future. My role is to be a facilitator to your hopes, your wishes and your dreams. Zaya, you’ve made me a better human just simply by being who you were born to be. Our baby girl, Zaya Wade. So baby, thank you for showing the world what courage looks like. I’m proud that I was chosen to stand in place as your father.”

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The emotional father of four also spoke up for Black trans people and the struggles that their families have to go through. He expressed his intentions of lending his ‘resources and access’ to such families so that their voices can be heard.

Why did Funches oppose Wade’s case?

When Wade filed the case for legal changes, Zaya’s mother objected to Wade’s move with a case of her own. Funches claimed that her ex-husband had violated the terms of their divorce agreement by filing the case without her consent. Furthermore, Funches accused Wade of ‘coaxing’ Zaya to agree to the change for his personal gains.

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She appealed to the court to dismiss the petition for the name and gender change at least until Zaya turned 18 years old. Funches expressed her concerns regarding her daughter’s media exposure and the amount of negative attention it would attract. In turn, Wade concluded by lashing out at Funches for not being a supportive mother when their daughter needed her the most.