Dwyane Wade defends his daughter’s wish to change her name and gender legally.
In new court documents, the NBA legend responded to his ex-wife’s claims of having alterer motives. Siohvaughn Funches isn’t in favor of Zaya Wade, 15, making any major life changes. Funches accused Dwyane of supporting Zaya primarily for financial gain.
The mother wants a judge to intervene and make Zaya wait until she’s 18. Funches filed a petition to block her ex-husband from supporting Zaya’s request. However, according to news sources, Dwyane has the final say regarding Zaya’s life and only notified his ex-wife as a courtesy.
Dwayne, who in 2021 reportedly had a net worth of $170 million, called Funches’ claims about potentially profiting from their child’s name change “libelous at their core, and are, at best, nonsensical.” Dwyane says the legal change is about “empowering “Zaya to live her truth.”
He continued, “allowing Zaya to take on the milestones of being a young adult with confidence and joy, and to ensure that those moments are not clouded by the self-doubt that comes from checking a box or signing a name that does not reflect her identity.” Dwyane wants Zaya to live more comfortably and honestly in all aspects of her life-from simple introductions and food orders to applying for a driver’s license and filling out college applications.”
Dwyane also said Zaya’s life shouldn’t be put on hold just because her mother can’t accept her. If approved, Zaya’s legal name would change from Zion Malachi Airamis Wade to Zaya Malachi Airamis Wade.
In 2020, when Zaya was 12, she revealed her truth to the world. That same year, Dwayne appeared on The Ellen Show and spoke about supporting his daughter. Since then, Dwyane and his wife, Gabrielle Union have been Zaya’s ride or dies. Dwyane respectfully called out J-Boog of B2K and Boosie for saying mean comments about Zaya.
Dwayne admitted he fears for Zaya’s safety as a Black transgender woman. Zaya recently spoke on how she deals with hate and said:
“As a trans person, once I came out, there was a lot of hateful comments about how I should grow my hair out long or fit into a certain version of femininity, even though that’s not true at all. That kind of advice is just trying to break you, but don’t let it.”
RO reports on December 12; a judge will decide if the case will proceed in California or be argued in Illinois.