Despite opposition from her mother, Dwyane Wade, 41, has successfully petitioned for his 15-year-old daughter Zaya to legally change her name and gender. A Los Angeles judge granted the legal changes, according to documents obtained by TMZ for a February 24 report. As per her wishes, her official name is now Zaya Malachi Airamis Wade.
Dwyane, whose 50-year-old wife Gabrielle Union has been extremely supportive of her stepdaughter, initially filed for the changes in August 2022. In archives, he expressed the change to be “to adjust with orientation personality,” and had the power to choose for the “requesting of minor” — against the desires of Zaya’s mother, Siohvaughn Funches.
According to the documents obtained by The Blast, “Pursuant to the terms of the Final Custody Judgment, (Wade) has full authority to make decisions on behalf of the petitioning minor, and he is not required to receive consent from Ms. Funches-Wade.” As a politeness, Ms. Funches-Swim has gotten notice of this request.”
Dwyane made the announcement that Zaya was trans in public back in 2020. During an appearance on Ellen DeGeneres’ show in February of that same year, the NBA alum declared, “We are proud parents of a child in the LGBTQ+ community and we are proud allies as well.” As parents, we take our roles and responsibilities very seriously.
In addition, he stated that the news had not really affected his primary parental responsibilities. As a result, it is our responsibility as parents to listen to what our children have to say and provide them with the best information and feedback possible whenever they come home with a question, problem, or anything else,” he stated. According to Dwyane, Zaya told them, “I would love for you guys to call me Zaya.”
Gabrielle has acknowledged that when Zaya first came out, she did not fully understand the subject. Gabrielle acknowledged this during an appearance on the Jemele Hill is Unbothered podcast in 2020. “We all had to educate ourselves because we weren’t.” We did not comprehend the trauma and harm that misgendering someone can cause.” She added, “They are now committed to supporting their daughter and advocating for the LGBTQIA+ community.” She stated, “We will never turn our backs on our baby, and we will never turn our backs on your baby either.”
