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Zaya Wade dropped some serious tea on her dad Dwyane Wades podcast, spilling all about the struggles of coming out as trans in the Black community. The 18-year-old aspiring model didnt hold back either, sharing how tough it was to open up to her NBA legend father and navigate the cultural barriers that made her journey all the more challenging. The pair’s relationship has strengthened over the years. However, reaching this point required a great deal of honesty. Here’s the lowdown…
Zaya got candid about how nerve-wracking it was to talk to her dad about being transgender in the YouTube episode released on Thursday, May 29. As a teenager, navigating one’s identity can already be challenging enough. And she admitted that having that convo about her gender identity with a Black man from Chicago wasnt exactly a walk in the park.
Not to stereotype, but not often do you have a full-blown conversation with a Black man, Zaya shared. She explained how cultural barriers in the Black community sometimes make it tough to discuss queer identities, saying, Man, they do not be liking us, shout out to the Black community, though.
But it wasnt just about the community. It was personal, too. Zaya had to break through her own assumptions about her dad. I think it was hard to break through my stereotype of you, she told Dwyane, noting how she initially saw him as a rigid Black man stuck in traditional ways.
Like, you trying to understand what being trans is like, but its, like, we are are trying to understand what you were like, cos I have this image of mainly just men in general, but, especially a Black man. Its, like, [they are] stuck in their ways, like rigid in those things that they dont want to, like, move past.
Instead of a formal sit-down, Zaya found her groove talking to her dad during their chill road trips around town. Those car rides turned into deep, meaningful moments where she could open up about her truth.
The former NBA star went on to express with the parenting sauce when it comes to raising not just a trans child, but any child, for that matter.
In his case, Dwyane stressed that honesty is the foundation of his bond with Zaya. Reflecting on a pivotal moment, he recalled telling her, We have to just be completely honest with each other. You and I should never guess; were never guessing. Were never lying to each other. That convo was a game-changer, he said, helping them grow closer. Dwyane made it clear hes not out here assuming things about his daughter; he wants the real, raw truth from her mouth.
Its a lot about me that you dont know, its a lot about you I dont know, and we tryna do this. And Im here, Im the one, Im gonna protect you to the end. But I need to know that everything youre telling me is 100% truthful. Once we got past that, weve been open.
He also shut down the idea that their relationship is all about Zayas trans identity. The trans conversation is not the entire conversation with us. This is 10% of our relationship, he expressed, with Zaya chiming in, Right.
Dwyanes all about creating intentional moments with his kids, whether its a quick date or a casual hang. Those moments seem extra special to him because when they take place, Dwyane feels like hes learned so much more about his child through their quality bonding time.
