Photo: Dwyane Wade/Instagram
As a parent, you never stop learning and growing — just askDwyane Wade.
The former Miami Heat superstar, 38, is continuing to speak out about how much his 12-year-old childZayahas changed him as a dad.
“For me, it’s always about being able to adapt and being able to learn, and always being able to grow,” Wade toldEntertainment Tonighton Thursday in Chicago at the premiere of his ESPN documentaryD. Wade: Life Unexpected. “I think coming from the inner city of Chicago early on, I was kind of closed-minded on a lot of things.”
The athlete added, “And I’ve beenwith my wife [Gabrielle Union], traveling the world, meeting people, going to different places, I’ve learned to keep my mind open, keep my eyes open, keep my heart open, keep my thoughts open. That’s what I’ve been trying to do as I’m growing into the man that I’ve always dreamed of becoming.”
“We’re not the only family that’s had to deal with gender expression, gender identity, sexuality, with their child,” he toldET. “We understand the position we’ve been put in, especially in our community, and even though it’s not always a popular thing to speak out on issues that people areuncomfortable with or not as educated on, but this is the platform that God gave me and my family. So we use it.”
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RELATED GALLERY:Dwyane Wade Proudly Opens Up About Watching His ‘Son Become Into Who She Now’ Is
DuringTuesday’s episodeofTheEllen DeGeneresShow, Wade recalled the moment Zaya came out to him and Union, and also said that he hopes to give her “thebest opportunity to be her best self.”
Wade — who, aside from Zaya and Kaavia, is dad to sonsXavier Zechariah, 6, andZaire Blessing Dwyane, as well as the guardian of nephewDahveon Morris, 18 — shared that he was proud of Zaya and her role as “a leader.”
“Once Zaya came home and said, ‘I want you to call me Zaya and I’m ready to take on this,’ I looked at her and said, ‘You are a leader. And this is our opportunity to allow you to be a voice,’ ” Wade said toEllen DeGeneres. “Right now it’s through us, because she’s 12 years old, but eventually it will be through her.”
The same day,L.A.’s Finestactress Union shared aseries of heartwarming tweets, raving overZaya and introducing herwith a video of the preteen stressing the importance of being “true to yourself.”
RELATED VIDEO: Gabrielle Union Introduces 12-Year-Old Zaya to the World: “She’s Whip Smart and We Are So Proud”
Before revealing that his child had requested she/her pronouns and to be called Zaya over her birth name Zion, Wade previously opened up about how he had to focus on educating himself to be the best supporter.
“I had to look myself in the mirror when my son at the time was 3 years old. And me and my wife are having conversations about [noticing] hewasn’t on the boy vibe that Zaire was on,” the father said during a December conversation for Showtime’sAll the Smokepodcast.
In addition to having open conversations, Wade said it was also critical to look inside oneself and examine possible reactions or prejudices: “I had to look myself in the mirror and say, ‘What if your son come home and tell you he’s gay? What are you going to do? How are you going to be? How are you going to act?’ ”
The star continued, “It ain’t about him. He knows who he is. It’s about you. Who are you? All these people that’s out there saying these things, look at yourself. Understandthat you’re the one that’s got the issues. You’re the one that’s got the problem.”
source: people.com
