To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Not now
OK
Advert
Advert
Advert

NBA legend Dwyane Wade's trans daughter has been granted legal name change after court battle

Callum Jones

Published 
| Last updated 

NBA legend Dwyane Wade's trans daughter has been granted legal name change after court battle

Featured Image Credit: Imagespace/Alamy Stock Photo/DwyaneWade/Instagram

The daughter of NBA legend Dwyane Wade has had her chosen name legally recognised following a court battle.

Zaya Wade came out as trans in 2019 when she was just 12 years old.

In an interview with Ellen DeGeneres, Dwyane spoke on how Zaya had been using the name for years prior to the public announcement.

Advert

Loading…

Speaking in 2020, he said: "Me and my wife Gabrielle, we are proud parents of a child in the LGBT+ community and we are proud allies as well.

"We take our roles and responsibilities as parents very seriously.

"So when our child comes home with a question or an issue, it’s our job as parents to listen and give them the best information we can and the best feedback we can.

Advert

"That doesn’t change because sexuality is now involved in it.

Dwyane Wade spoke openly about his daughter's trans journey in 2020. Credit: TheEllenShow / YouTube
Dwyane Wade spoke openly about his daughter's trans journey in 2020. Credit: TheEllenShow / YouTube

"Zaya, our 12-year-old, came home… and said, ‘Hey, so I want to talk to you guys. I think going forward, I’m ready to live my truth, and I want to be referenced as she/her.

"'I’d love for you guys to call me Zaya.'"

Advert

The NBA legend then spoke on how he and his wife tried to educate themselves 'to make sure we give our child the best opportunity to be her best self'.

Dwyane said this involved his wife Gabrielle Union speaking to everybody on the cast of Pose.

Since then, the family have been trying to have her name legally recognised as Zaya, something that has been years in the making.

Zaya's chosen name is now legally recognised. Credit: Zaya Wade / Instagram
Zaya's chosen name is now legally recognised. Credit: Zaya Wade / Instagram
Advert

And in court documents first obtained by People, it has been revealed that Zaya can now use her preferred name on legal documents, as well as the correct gender markers.

The process of legally changing her name hasn't been the easiest for Zaya, as Dwyane’s ex-wife and Zaya's mom Siohvaughn Funches has claimed that the NBA legend is trying to 'profit' from his daughter's journey.

But Zaya's name change didn't need consent from Siohvaughn, so she was able to proceed without much of a problem.

As you'd probably expect, Dwyane was not exactly best pleased by the allegations, saying the comments put forward by his ex-wife were 'serious and harmful'.

Advert

On Instagram, he wrote: "None of us are surprised by Siohvaughn’s attempt to fight Zaya’s identity.

"I’m very disappointed that she continuously [finds] a way of centring herself and her needs without regard to her children.

"All I ever wanted was to have my parenting time uninterrupted, as I knew that it would be a very difficult time for our kids to navigate their new normal."

Topics: News, NBA, LGBTQ, US News

Callum Jones
More like this
Advert
Advert
Advert

Chosen for YouChosen for You

News

Chilling last words shouted at missing teen after he jumped off cruise ship into shark-infested waters

33 minutes ago

Most Read StoriesMost Read

Bam Margera goes on disturbing rant threatening to smoke crack until he dies

4 hours ago