DWYANE Wade said his 12-year-old daughter Zaya knew she was transgender for nine years before telling her family.
The NBA star, 38, referred to the teen as “our leader” and revealed how proud he is of her for living her truth.
Appearing on Good Morning America, Dwayne told Robin Roberts yesterday: “She’s known it for nine years. She’s known since she was three-years-old.
“Along this way we’ve asked questions and we’ve learned. But she’s known. Myself and my family, we love the fact that she doesn’t have to hide who she is.
“She is our leader.”
The athlete explained that Zaya – who was born a boy named Zion – initiated a conversation with him and his wife Union, 47, to come out.
He continued: “Zaya early on knew two things. She knew straight and she knew gay. But Zaya started doing more research.
“She was the one that sat down with us as a family and said I don’t think I’m gay. This is my gender identity. I identify myself as a young lady.
“I think I’m a straight trans because I still like boys. So it was just a process for us to sit down with our daughter and figure out who she is and what she like.”
Zaya’s journey will be featured in Wade’s new documentary D. Wade: Life Unexpected where he opens up about his basketball career, and family life.
Dwyane welcomed Zaya into the world with ex-wife Siohvaughn Funches, but was granted sole custody of their two children and is now also raising his children with his current wife Gabrielle.
His candid discussion comes days after he opened up about Zaya’s journey during an appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres show.
Speaking candidly about his child’s gender identity, he told Ellen: “Once Zaya, our 12-year-old, came home… first, Zion. I don’t know if everyone knows, originally named Zion.
“Zion, born as a boy, 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 and her. I’d love for you guys to call me Zaya’.
“So, that was our job to go out and get information, to reach out to every relationship we have.”
Dwyane continued: “My wife reached out to everybody on the cast of Pose.
“We just tried to figure out as much information as we [could] to make sure we give our child the best opportunity to be her best self.
“Once Zion came home and said ‘call me Zaya‘ and was ready to take on this, I looked at her and said, ‘You are a leader. It’s our opportunity to allow you to be a voice.’
“Right now it’s through us, because she’s 12 years old, but eventually it will be through her.”
The interview comes just months after the basketball star was praised by fans for clapping back at the trolls who were trying to shame his child for wearing a crop top and nail polish.
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